Frequent power cuts, high energy costs and lack of reliable and affordable heating in winter are just some of the energy challenges faced by countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

With Sustainable Development for All a UN priority, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) has been supporting regional programmes that promote energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Some of the successes are highlighted in a report released this month entitled Empowering Lives, Building Resilience.

To find out more about the improving energy picture in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Dianne Penn spoke to Marina Olshanskaya, a UNDP expert on Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Mitigation.

Duration: 5'38"