Rapidly expanding populations, increasing rates of urbanization, economic and industrial expansion, and rising standards of living associated with aspirations for greater comfort, exacerbated by low energy prices due to widespread energy subsidies at the end-user levels, have largely contributed to a rapidly rising demand for energy in the Arab region, while very limited efforts are deployed to improve energy efficiency (EE). The objective of this project is to substantially enhance the capacity of ESCWA Member States in improving and optimizing energy efficiency in the building sector and up-scaling energy efficiency programs in the existing residential and non-residential building stock. The project is intended to pave the way for a regional initiative whereby implemented activities will be made available to three ESCWA Member Countries that are representative of the three Arab sub regions. It will build on existing work that has been undertaken or is currently being implemented in the region, and elsewhere, to help the relevant institutions in the three selected countries develop the needed instruments and tools to set up effective large-scale implementation schemes for improving the existing buildings thermal quality and for dissemination of higher EE appliances and products.