Appointed to World Bank advisory role

Professor Jim Watson (UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources) has been appointed Chair of the Technical Advisory Group of the World Bank's Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme (ESMAP). Professor Watson will chair ESMAP's Technical Advisory Group for two years initially. The group provides feedback and advice on technical or implementation issues to the Consultative Group which comprises ESMAP donors. A key role is to advise ESMAP on how to maximise the effectiveness and value-for-money of its activities. ESMAP is a partnership between the World Bank and 19 organisations, including the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to help low and middle-income countries reduce poverty and boost growth through sustainable energy solutions. Professor Watson said: "I'm looking forward to working with the World Bank and its donors in this new role. The Bank's approach to the energy sector has come a long way in the past decade.