This course compiles knowledge and lessons learned during the design and implementation of investment plans funded through the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) Clean Technology Fund (CTF) and the Scaling Up Renewable Energy Program in Low Income Countries (SREP). The objective of this course is to teach policymakers, planners and climate change practitioners how to design and finance strategic plans and programs for low emissions development that go beyond a project-by-project approach.

Course Overview:

Developing countries are increasingly turning toward low emissions development options not only to achieve greenhouse gas mitigation goals, but also to bolster energy security and spur job creation. This course provides a high-level introduction to the importance and process for crafting low emissions investment plans. The course furthers information on tools and frameworks that will help you structure the planning process, together with discussing the major steps of developing a low emissions investment plan.

Specifically, you will gain insight into the key aspects of:

• Engaging with and consulting stakeholders,
• Scoping the country context, identifying and prioritizing low emissions investment options,
• Developing specific project concepts with consideration given to financing; and
• The importance of building monitoring and reporting with periodic reviews.

Each module in the course concludes with a quiz/exercise that tests your learning of each phase in the investment planning process and should take approximately two to two and a half hours to complete.

Objective

The main objective of the course is to equip policymakers with best knowledge to draft a low emissions investment plan by:

• Preparing an overall investment strategy to achieve national goals related to climate change and energy security
• Launching a national dialogue to shape the plan and ensure public participation
• Scoping and prioritizing specific investments to meet those objectives, focusing on sectoral issues (energy, transport, industry)
• Selecting and setting up the appropriate financial instruments
• Involving the private sector to scale-up action
• Undertaking the appropriate underlying technical, economic and financial analyses
• Managing results, monitoring and evaluation

This course was funded by the Carbon Finance Assist Trust Fund and developed and delivered in collaboration with the Climate Investment Funds (CIF). 

Target Audience:

National-level policymakers, planners and practitioners working in the fields of clean energy, sustainable transportation, energy efficiency, and climate change.

Preference will be given to (in the following order):

(i) national-level government policymakers, planners and practitioners working in the fields of clean energy, sustainable transportation, energy efficiency, and climate change from the 14 countries invited to prepare SREP investment plans (Bangladesh, Benin, Cambodia, Ghana, Haiti, Kiribati, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zambia);

(ii) national-level government policymakers, planners and practitioners working in the fields of clean energy, sustainable transportation, energy efficiency, and climate change from other developing countries; and

(iii) practitioners from development organizations or other institutions supporting countries in this work.

This is a free World Bank Group e-Learning course. Learn more and register here.