Energy for All 2030

Despite recognition that access to energy is inextricably linked to human development, half of the world’s population remains without access to modern energy.

In Sub Saharan Africa (SSA), four out of five families do not have access to electricity, and rely instead on the traditional use of biomass for their most basic energy needs. Projections show that the situation is likely to be the same in two decades time.

SEI is currently working with partners across Europe on a new project, ‘Energy for all 2030’,  funded by an EC Public Awareness grant to raise the public and political profile of energy access in Africa, specifically highlighting the ways in which access to energy can support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Specific activities
Project partners will produce articles, technical and policy briefings and discussion papers based on field evidence to demonstrate the critical role of energy access at the local level for achieving the MDGs in SSA; the funding gap on energy access for the poor; and the current performance of the Africa-EU Partnership funds.

This information will be presented to relevant MEPs, EU Ministers and EU Commissioners through official briefings and high level meetings with project partners and Associate organizations. Information sharing workshops and round table meetings with key decision makers and stakeholders from the EU and SSA will be arranged in Brussels and in partner EU countries.

In addition, the partners will contribute material to a Pan-European media campaign to highlight the central role of energy access for achieving the MDGs in SSA.

Energy for all 2030 will also support the establishment of an ACP-EC policy dialogue to promote in-country prioritization of energy access at the local level under the 11th EDF and the Africa-EU Energy Partnership. Since the Africa-EU Energy Partnership is presently the only mechanism related to aid support from the EU to SSA, there is a need not only to increase funding for energy access initiatives, but also to improve the overall effectiveness of current support. This can be achieved through ensuring well informed policy and decision making in both the EU Commission and Parliament.

Project duration: 2010-2013

Partners
Practical Action (UK)
Technical University of Barcelona (Spain)
EDUCON  (the Czech Republic)

Associates
TaTEDO (Tanzania)
Gaia Association (Ethiopia)
KITE (Ghana)
ETC Foundation, Energy Unit (the Netherlands)
CIRPS (Interuniversity Research Centre for Sustainable Development) Sapienza University of Rome, (Italy)
WIP (Germany)
Fundacion Acciona Microenergia (ACCIONA) (Spain)
Affromedianet (France)