The Energy & Economic Growth (EEG) Applied Research Programme has appointed Simon Trace, Oxford Policy Management (OPM)’s principal consultant for Natural Resources & Energy as its new programme director from August 2018.

EEG produces cutting-edge research into the links between energy and economic growth, working closely with policy makers in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia to build more sustainable, efficient, reliable and equitable energy systems. After leading EEG through its inception phase and into its first exciting phases of research design, current programme director Marcela Tarazona will be stepping down to pursue personal projects.

Marcela said, “I am proud to leave the EEG programme in a strong position. We have worked closely with policymakers in low income countries, academics, and other energy practitioners, to devise an innovative programme approach, Policy Research into Action Cycle (PRActiCle), which will deliver high quality research that is responsive to the needs and demands of policymakers.”

A chartered engineer with an MA in the Anthropology of Development, Simon has 35 years’ experience working in international development, with a focus on access to basic services (energy, water, and sanitation), natural resource management, and technology.  He has held senior executive positions within several international NGOs, and has served on a number of steering and advisory groups for prominent international initiatives related to energy, including the UN SE4ALL Tracking Framework Steering Group, and is currently a member of the Strategic Advisory Group for the UK Government’s £1.5 billion Global Research Challenge Fund.

“I have seen how access to energy has a transformative effect on people’s lives, whether that is at home, work, school or through public services. Access to clean water and access to reliable electricity supplies have similar impacts as they act as critical enablers for social and economic improvement,” Simon said. “The EEG research programme offers the opportunity to deliver some new and incredibly useful insights into how to deliver energy services more effectively to those who lack them at the moment.”

Marcela said, “I am very happy to welcome Simon and am confident that he will take the programme from strength to strength.”

Simon has been leading EEG’s first country programme in Sierra Leone, where it is in the process of developing and commissioning a research agenda to inform and support government energy reforms. An interview with him about his work with EEG so far can be found here.