EEPFE represented on high-level experts’ consultative meeting on Sustainable Energy for All in Africa (SEFA-Africa)

This meeting was held from 9-11 July 2012 in Addis Ababa. The Environmental Economics Policy Forum for Ethiopia (EEPFE) received invitation as one of the most resourceful institutions that could play major roles in moving Africa’s energy agenda forward. Dr. Abebe Damte, Research Fellow of EEPFE, represented the forum on this meeting.

The meeting bought together selected energy experts to interactively produce and disseminate analytical and policy papers on sustainable energy access in Africa reflecting on past and present experiences to inform practical steps towards the future

The meeting was based on the UN Secretary-General objectives set at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi this year. It was organized by the African Climate Policy Center (ACPC) and co-partners, to review and analyze past and present efforts in energy access to inform practical steps towards future efforts in achieving meaningful sustainable energy access for all in Africa. One major output of this initiative would be a report on the main gaps and priorities affecting modern energy access in Africa and solution-based recommendations that will enhance national and regional initiatives on the “Sustainable Energy for All” agenda. The findings will feed into the work of the UN Secretary-General’s High Level Group of Sustainable Energy for All.

This first consultative meeting aimed at identifying the critical issues and barriers involved in the evolution of modern and sustainable energy access in Africa with a view of enabling the deployment, scale-up and replication of the most promising implementation approaches including funding sources and mechanisms. Its objectives include developing a common methodology for conducting country case studies, and assigning the appropriate people to work on the cases.

One of the issues discussed on this meeting was how academia can position itself to become relevant to energy policy-makers and practitioners. If the academia wants to enhance its role one of the strategies is to identify priorities set by policy-makers and follow a multidisciplinary apporach to solve the problem. “I think a demand-driven approach is crucial so researches could be policy-relevant,” claimed Dr. Abebe. “Great effort is required to bridge the communication gap between researchers and policy-makers by raising awareness of studies that are undertaken by academia.”

For more information on the meeting, please contact Dr. Abebe Damte on abebed2002@yahoo.co.uk.