The meeting comes on the heels of the abrupt departure of Interim Director General, Hélène Pelosse, who stepped down earlier today amid reports of continuing funding shortfalls for the entity.
According to The National, Abu Dhabi’s state newspaper, a delay in a $ 3 million contribution from the US and $2.1 million from Japan have contributed to a budget shortfall of $8.4 million.
The departure of Pelosse, who had held her post for 15 months, reportedly came as something of a shock to the agency, which was expected to confirm her as permanent director next year.
In a written statement, IRENA said a new Interim Director General will be nominated at next week’s meeting.
Also on the meeting’s agenda are decisions related to IRENA’s 2001 work programme. The discussions will be based premised on the agency’s having an $18 million budget, will 38% coming from contributions from member states and 42% from the United Arab Emirates.
The final 26% of the budget will come from German and Austrian bids for the Boon Innovation & Technology Centre and the Vienna Liaison Office, the agency said.
Members will also begin to define the international organization’s permanent institutions, and draft rules and procedures for the election of its Council and Assembly. The members will also set a date for the first formal assembly meeting.
Finally IRENA will present the winner of its “Solar for All” contest. Greenlight Planet, a US-based start-up, won the design contest with its innovative solar-powered lamps. Peter Heller, executive Director of the Canopus Foundation, will present the contest and the company.
IRENA is currently based in a temporary office on the Abu Dhabi corniche and is expected to move into permanent headquarters in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi’s clean-technology research and development hub, in 2015
For additional information:
International Renewable Energy Agency
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