A new partnership between the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organisation (GEIDCO) and the UNFCCC is set to bolster the energy transition in developing countries through targeted, coordinated capacity-building support.
A key outcome of the partnership is the establishment of the Energy Cluster under the umbrella of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB) Network. The Energy Cluster is an online platform designed to strengthen collaboration, coordination and knowledge exchange among diverse stakeholders.
It aims to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy systems by providing accessible capacity-building resources and addressing persistent gaps in clean energy planning and implementation, particularly in the Global South.
“GEIDCO brings valuable experience and vision in promoting clean energy development and global energy interconnection, an essential path to building resilience and low carbon societies. This partnership sets the tone for how we will work collectively and collaboratively within the cluster,” said Princess Abze Djigma, co-chair of the PCCB.
By streamlining efforts and bringing together actors across the energy and climate landscapes, the Energy Cluster will prevent fragmentation and duplication of capacity-building activities. It also promotes South-South cooperation, enabling developing countries to share innovative solutions and learn directly from one another’s experiences in accelerating the energy transition.
“We encourage Energy Cluster members to prioritise countries and communities with limited energy access and urgent capacity-building needs in project design and resource allocation,” said Dr Cheng Zhiqiang, Executive Secretary for Cooperation at GEIDCO. “The aim is to help these countries and communities strengthen their energy transition capabilities and climate resilience.”
The Cluster’s activities focus on three pillars:
- Knowledge-sharing to facilitate the exchange of best practices and lessons learned across countries and organisations.
- Technical training to develop specialised skills for energy professionals and policymakers in developing countries.
- Strategic engagement to enhance multistakeholder collaboration and integrate capacity-building into national and regional energy strategies.
Already, the Energy Cluster has begun supporting efforts to align national capacity-building initiatives with long-term energy transition goals. Recent technical training sessions and regional dialogues – co-led by GEIDCO under the Energy Cluster – have brought together policymakers, technical experts and development practitioners to share tools, strategies and good practices for low-carbon energy planning.
The partnership tackles a key barrier to climate action: limited institutional and individual capacity in implementing energy transition plans. By providing targeted, coordinated support, the GEIDCO-PCCB collaboration is accelerating progress toward global climate goals, ensuring that no country is left behind in the energy transition.