The consortium of Ernst & Young and E3 International were awarded a Framework Agreement to support the Green for Growth Fund (GGF) Southeast Europe to promote energy efficiency (EE) and to reduce CO2 emissions in its target region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) by: (a) refinancing local financial institutions providing loans to households, businesses, municipalities and public sector for energy efficiency measures or renewable energy (RE) projects; (b) providing direct financing to Non‐Financial Institutions that meet GGF energy saving and/or emissions targets, (c) increase awareness of the importance and impact of EE and RE in its target partners, and (d) develop the capacity of its investees in this area.  This particular Task Order - Support to MuganBank in Azerbaijan - is aimed at building EE lending capacity and providing support to product development at the Fund’s new PI in Azerbaijan. MuganBank is determined to increase its understanding of EE finance, to strengthen its internal capacities and expressed strong interest in launching dedicated EE loan products. Apart from this, the Bank is seeking support in marketing and awareness raising actions to launch and roll out the new business line.

Egypt has recently transformed its energy sector by issuing a PM Decree in 2014 increasing electricity tariffs and phasing out subsidies by 2019. Accordingly, the Ministry of Trade & Industry (MoTI) is implementing an energy efficiency program to lower the energy security risks for industries and improve their international competitiveness while encouraging growth in green manufacturing and services. MoTI has requested World Bank Group assistance on developing the institutional structure and regulatory framework to support activities on industrial energy efficiency and to get them started on high impact initiatives on standards and labelling for industrial equipment. This assignment aims to 1) develop a motor market analysis and provide reform readiness support 2) draft regulations, test procedures, minimum equipment performance standards (MEPS), and 3) capacity building.

 Specifically, E3I will analyze the current motor market in Egypt to understand the various types, classifications, market segmentation, efficiency levels, product availability, local vs import market, and projected growth levels; develop a detailed Scenario Analysis and Roadmap using the market analysis to define baselines and MEPS calibrated, taking into account the market size, potential for efficiency improvements, benefits to the industries and manufacturing sector, the energy and economic situation in the country, ability or willingness of the private sector to adopt MEPS, government reform timelines, and the potential impact on manufacturers, importers, and service providers, including financing and lending institutions; conduct stakeholder dialogues through regular consultative meetings with manufacturers/ suppliers, importers, and service providers, and share with them global best practice on motor programs; draft regulations, test procedures, and MEPS; perform institutional analysis to understand the government and industry’s ability to absorb an improved standards and labelling system, taking into account the capacity for implementation of a proposed program, assessment of equipment testing infrastructure available for electric motors, the costs associated with implementation (e.g. testing labs, inspections systems, etc.) and the benefits for their institutions; support the technical committee, compromising of key stakeholders, to review and develop  MEPS and test procedures based on internationally accepted methods to facilitate trade and competitiveness given the local situation in Egypt, and develop an action plan /road map for MEPS implementation and sequencing; and provide in-depth capacity building for standards authority staff, and other relevant agencies to improve their knowledge and capacity to implement reforms.