Energy and climate change experts discuss sustainable energy for all in Africa

Abstract

About 40 energy and climate change experts from across Africa met at the United Nations Conference Center in Addis Ababa, from 9-11 July, 2012 to address increasing energy access challenges on the continent. Held under the theme, Sustainable Energy for All in Africa’ (SEFA-Africa), the meeting was aimed at discussing the energy access challenges and opportunities on the continent with a view to accelerating access to energy services as a priority for socioeconomic development. The gathering explored the roles of policy and institutions, energy planning and service expansion, technologies, Research and Development, as well as financing universal energy access for all in Africa. “Policies and institutions need to be conducive to rapid expansion of access, complemented with proper energy planning, technology integration, capacity enhancement in research and development and appropriate financing mechanism” said Yohannes Hailu, Economic Affairs Officer with the ECA Sub regional Office for Eastern Africa who participated in the meeting. The theme of ‘Sustainable Energy for All’ was motivated by the UN initiative on universal access to energy services.