UNEP - Head, Renewable Energy and Finance Unit, Energy Branch
http://www.unep.fr

France

Within UNEPs Paris-based Division of Technology, Industry andEconomics, Eric Usher is responsible for renewable energy andsustainable energy finance programme activities. This work focuses onnew approaches to delivering cleaner energy services in regions withoutaccess and new means for financing cleaner energy infrastructure.Through various programmes UNEP has implemented a variety of marketsupport instruments - including seed financing and enterprisedevelopment, financing subsidies, risk guarantee facilities andfinancier advisory support services. At the global level, UNEPsSustainable Energy Finance Initiative provides a broad platform forengaging the finance sector in the shift towards cleaner energyinfrastructure. Overall, these different mechanisms and partnershipsare aimed at helping financiers share risks, buy down transactioncosts, build capacity and address various other barriers that makebuilding sustainable energy investment portfolios a challenge.Before joining UNEP, Mr. Usher held the position of General Manager ofNoor Holding, a solar rural electrification company in Morocco. Heholds an MBA from INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France, and a BSc inElectrical Engineering from Queens University in Kingston, Canada.