We are pleased to introduce “Energy and Development” a quarterly journal dedicated to the dissemination and exchange of information on energy sector best practices worldwide. “Energy and Development” promotes greater understanding of the importance of the energy sector in development countries and emerging economics while addressing poverty alleviation and its associated socio-economic hardships.

CORE’s inaugural issue focuses on sharing the lesson’s learned from CORE’s recent work under the South Asia Region Initiative for Energy (SARI/Energy) Rural Energy Services Program for the U.S. Agency for International Development (2000-2003). Under the project, CORE identified numerous best practices for institutional, business, and financial model and rural energy service delivery in both Asia and other regions of the world. These best practices were shared with stakeholders throughout the South Asia Region. Some examples include the Rural Electrification Program of the Rural Electrification Board (REB)/Palli Bidyut Samitis (PBSs) and Renewable Energy Program of Grameen Shakti in Bangladesh; the Energy Services Delivery Project/Renewable Energy for Rural Economics Development Project (REREDP) in Sri Lanka; the integrated Rural Energy Program in India, in addition to a number of ongoing successful programs involving private institution, NGOs and cooperatives that are serving as equal partners in the rural electrifiction in the South Asia Region.

Accordingly, we choose the inaugural issue of Energy and Development to serve as a vehicle to further disseminate, inform, and exchange information on innovative approaches and practice for rural electrification , a challenge being faced by all developing countries. These successful examples further the premise that the sustainability of rural electrification is dependent on the integration of rural energy service delivery with income generation to address poverty alleviation in rural economies. A broader issue is to address rural energy programs in the context of a better quality of life in terms of improved education, health care, agro-industry, infrastructure, and trade. This mantra was the highlight of the Regional Conference on Private Participation in Rural Energy Service Delivery organized by CORE during October 29-30, 2003 in Colombo, Sri Lanka- CORE’s final program in the South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Rural Energy Services Program. Many successful case studies and best practices involving private entities, NGOs and cooperatives were presented at the conference, some of which have been reproduced in theis issue with the authors. Through these papers, it is clear that private participation can be the key to rural energy access, serving as a conduit to alleviating poverty in rural areas.

We hope you find this issue of interest and we look forward to receiving your questions or comments as CORE International, Inc. continues, through two energy programs (A worldwide Energy Sector Technical Assistance Project-$500 million Energy II IQC and a worldwide People, Energy and Development Project-$ 150 million PED IQC) funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. CORE Will continue to expand its management consulting and capacity building services worldwide through these two major programs. With the recognition of the of participatory approaches to energy service delivery and improved energy sector governance, CORE’s motto- Development Through International Partnerships-has acquired a renewed significance.

Please address any questions, comments, and insights to the attention of The Editor, Energy and Development at coreindia@vsnl.net, and let us know if your comments may be reprinted by us in future issues.