US$925,000 Guyana bio-fuels project yet to kick offDonors are offering up to US$200,Wholesale NFL Jerseys,000 to finance multiple proposals for promoting energy efficiency and access to renewable energy in Latin America and the Caribbean, even as Guyana is yet to utilise almost triple that amount from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on bio-fuel projects.The Inter-American Development Bank, GVEP International, GTZ and the Korean Government are putting up the money for novel ideas in improving energy efficiency and expanding access to renewable energy.The contest comes even as Guyana is yet to utilise grant funding in the amount of US$925, 000 for bio-fuel projects which was awarded by the IDB in April 2008. So far, no project has been granted funding, Kaieteur News understands.Elisabeth Ramlall, Head of the Agriculture Sector Development Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, did not answer queries regarding the delay, but instead referred Kaieteur News to Permanent Secretary Dindial Permaul. Efforts to contact Mr. Permaul proved futile.The Energy Innovation contest seeks to jump-start the development of novel solutions to the energy shortages afflicting the region, particularly in rural and low-income areas.It will award a total of between US$4m and US$6m over the next three years to multiple projects, with a maximum of $200,000 per proposal.Over the next month, a regional marketing campaign based on the slogan “What’s your bright idea?” will urge individuals and organisations based in Latin American or Caribbean countries to submit proposals to the contest.Non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations,Wholesale Jerseys, companies, foundations, think tanks, universities or development agencies may apply singly,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, or in partnership with entities based outside the region, the IDB stated.According to the Bank, the criteria for evaluation include degree of innovation, developmental impact (economic, social, and environmental),cheap jerseys, scalability, reliability, financial sustainability, institutional capability and the quality of the proposal, implementation strategy and projected risks.GVEP International is a UK-based NGO working to accelerate and improve access to energy among poor populations in developing countries. GVEP International supports innovation in the design and use of technologies or business models that have the potential to increase access to renewable energy, improve energy efficiency, or increase the productive use of energy.The IDB is the largest source of financing for development for Latin America and the Caribbean. Through its Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Initiative (SECCI), the IDB supports renewable energy and energy efficiency, bio-fuel development, carbon finance, and adaptation to climate change.The Korean Government actively supports Latin America and the Caribbean’s efforts towards improving energy access,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, efficiency, and producing renewable energy.? To that end, Korea established the “Knowledge Partnership Korea Fund for Technology and Innovation” (KPKF) within the IDB.Deutsche Gesellschaft f?r Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH is an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations that provides viable, forward looking solutions for political, economic, ecological and social development in a globalised world.In August 2007, IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno signed a Memorandum of Understanding, through Japan funding, to help Guyana evaluate and screen bio-energy project proposals.He said, then, that the programme will help to jump-start private investment in areas such as bio-fuel production and co-generation with biomass.The MOU was signed between the IDB, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and Guyana to establish a non-exclusive framework of collaboration to promote programmes and projects on renewable energy, energy efficiency and bio-energy in the Caribbean.