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N a n c i n g E n e r g y S e r v i c e
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S m a l l - S c a l e E n e r g
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The ADB FINESSE Africa program is implemented by the
Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Unit (PSDU) of the African Development Bank (ADB)
latest FINESSE newsletter / download FINESSE brochure
| Direct link between energy and development |
| A direct link exists between
energy use and human well-being. Energy provides critical services such
as light, heat, power, transport and communication. Access to reliable
and affordable sources of energy resources is a pre-requisite for human
development. Increasing the availability, accessibility and acceptability of sustainable energy brings about new and better development options and opportunities to humanity. This is particularly critical in Africa given that access to basic energy forms or services by the majority of the population is still very limited. On average, people in Africa use about 15% of energy consumed by their counterparts in developed countries. The main energy source for more than 70% of the continent's population is traditional biomass energy forms like fuelwood, animal and crop waste. Furthermore human and animal power still plays a significant part in the transport systems and other activities like farming. Africa is however endowed with vast renewable energy resources that are still to be exploited. These resources include solar energy, wind energy in coastal regions, hydroelectricity and geothermal energy. Multilateral and bilateral agencies’ traditional strategy of supporting large-scale investment in incremental grid-based power generation, transmission and distribution has not significantly translated to increased access to energy by the majority poor. Given the prohibitive cost of connecting low population areas such as rural communities to the power grid, renewable energy and energy efficient technologies that make use of localised resources become a realistic option. Several projects and programs have been implemented in Africa to try and promote the dissemination of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. Analysis shows that these initiatives faced a host of barriers that are related to developing and sustaining a market of these technologies. Two of the main barriers encountered are the absence of appropriate policy and regulatory frameworks to promote these technologies and lack of capacity to make a business case for such technologies. |
| FINESSE Africa program |
| The African Development Bank
(ADB) Financing Energy Services for
Small-Scale Energy Users (FINESSE) Africa program was conceived to
assist countries in Africa, working through the Bank, to formulate
appropriate policy and regulatory frameworks and to develop capacity to
generate a pipeline of investment projects in renewable energy and
energy efficiency. Program Overall Goal Assist countries in Africa, working through the Bank, to formulate the appropriate policy and regulatory frameworks and develop capacity to generate a pipeline of investment projects in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Program Objectives
Development Objectives Reduce poverty through
The ADB FINESSE Africa Program’s strategy involves capacity building measures and policy and regulatory measures as following, Capacity building measures
Policy and Regulatory Measures
The ADB FINESSE Africa program publishes a regular newsletter which provides a platform for exchange of information, knowledge, experiences and best practices that will lead to widespread dissemination of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies in Africa. To subscribe to the newsletter, send your request by e-mail to : finesse@afdb.org |
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Contact
details
African Development Bank Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Unit (PSDU) ADB FINESSE Africa Program B.P. 323 1002 Tunis Belvedere Tunisia E-mail : finesse@afdb.org Fax: (216) 71 10 37 75 |