PEM is currently formulating the renewed Danish support to the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP). ESMAP was established in 1983 as an umbrella trust fund under the World Bank, and it is a partnership of 24 donors that aims to help low and middle-income countries reduce poverty and boost growth through sustainable energy solutions. ESMAP has worked in more than 130 countries and disbursed USD 423.4 million in grants. Denmark, a donor to ESMAP since 1998, is now focusing its contributions on fewer, larger projects. PEM is supporting the formulation and consultation process with the Department for Green Diplomacy and Climate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark  and the World Bank to ensure the Danish contributions align with the upcoming ESMAP Business Plan 2025-2030.

Forests cover 31% of the Earth’s surface and house 80% of its land biodiversity. They are vital in combatting climate change and achieving the Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals. Yet, the world’s forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. Despite increased focus on sustainability, the fight against deforestation needs more effective and inclusive approaches. By acknowledging the strengths and limitations of various strategies, synergies can be developed that can halt deforestation, avoid negative social impacts, and create equitable outcomes. Denmark aims to support this with a new strategic forest programme with projects in Uganda, Ethiopia, the Central African Forest Initiative and the Amazon Fund. PEM has recently finalized the appraisal of this important progamme. The team assessed the quality and feasibility of the forest programme against the Danish strategic development priorities and provided recommendations on the necessary adjustments for follow-up to be taken prior to submission of the final

FAO and UN women are implementing a Swiss-funded project aimed at empowering women dairy farmers in Georgia. It aims to establish a network of female farmers and enhance their skills through training. Additionally, the program seeks to provide valuable knowledge about women’s rights and domestic violence. In 2022 PEM conducted the mid-term evaluation of the project, which was well received and we are now pleased to inform that we will also carry out the final evaluation.

PEMconsult conducted a desk appraisal of two bilateral projects, managed by the Danish Embassy in Bamako, Mali, for the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These projects represent the second phases of the “Fonds d’Appui à la Création des Entreprises par les Jeunes” and the “Fonds d’Appui aux Moteurs du changement”. The projects begin their second phase of implementation in 2024, alongside the introduction of the new transition framework for Danish engagement in Mali spanning from 2024 to 2027. PEMconsult conducted the desk appraisal, evaluating the general justification of the project and an assessment on the project level aspects, and contributed expertise in private sector development.