The Government of Senegal, the African Union (AU), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) hosted an International Conference on Renewable Energy in Africa, at the Le Meridien President Hotel in Dakar, Senegal, from April 16-18, 2008. Industry experts from around the globe attended the conference focusing on “making renewable energy markets work for Africa: policies, industries, and finance for scaling up.”
Visible leadership and commitment was displayed, as conference leaders stressed the major objectives: assess the potential of renewable energy in addressing Africa’s energy challenges; identify policy and regulatory options and new policy actions to stimulate broader and accelerated market-based dissemination of renewable energy; and identify capacity needs for renewable energy market enablers and players.
The conference was divided into three stages: plenary, parallel sessions, and the Ministerial Segment, after which, a Plan of Action on Scaling-up Renewables in Africa was created and endorsed in the Dakar Declaration on Scaling Up Renewables in Africa. The initial Plan of Action is spelled out as follows: firstly, all parties agree to an African continental target for governments, with support from development partners, to scale-up annual renewable energy investments to $10 billion from 2009-2014. Secondly, adopt a Plan of Action consisting of five key program dimensions. Thirdly, call upon African governments, their international development partners, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to support implementation of the Plan of Action with adequate resources.
Lastly, recommend that the AU, UNIDO, and other relevant development partners establish a ministerial-level policy advocacy group, to be supported by a coordination unit.