What is IEI?

• A Southern-conceived, Southern-led and Southern-located South-South-North partnership
• A small, independent, international non-governmental public-purpose organization led by internationally recognized energy experts, and with regional offices, staff and programmes in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

IEI - Status

IEI was formally incorporated as a not-for-profit organization with tax-exempt status in the USA in September 1991, and started operations in September 1992. It was founded by Prof José Goldemberg (Brazil), Prof Amulya Reddy (India), Prof Thomas Johansson (Sweden) and Dr Robert Williams (USA), after the publication of their widely acclaimed book Energy for a Sustainable World. The intent was to further develop analysis around sustainable energy development and to translate these ideas into practice.

It received initial funding from US-based foundations, including the Rockefeller, John Merck, Joyce-Mertz Gilmore and New Land Foundations. It has also received grants from the Swedish Agency for Research Cooperation with Developing Countries (SAREC), NORAD, DGIS (the Netherlands) and Hewlett Foundation.