Other Events

 


 

CURES Biofuels Capacity Building and Policy Workshop

 

Round Table on Sustainable Biofuels regional meeting

 

Date and Time: 10-13 March 2008 (Workshop) 12-13 March (Round Table)
Location: Braamfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa
 

CURES will be running the first in its two capacity building and participatory workshops in the Southern African region on biofuels, trade and food security from the 10th and 11th March 2008 in Johannesburg, South Africa. It will also host a policy formulation meeting for NBGo, CBOs and small scale farmers and small scale biofuel producers on the afternoon of 13th March. The 12th and morning of 13th will be spent jointly with the RSB to develop the draft principles and criteria for the Round Table.


Invitation and Notice Document

Round Table on Sustainable Biofuels

- Information Document

- Invitation

- Agenda

 


 

 

COMPETE participation at the

 

First High Level AU/Brazil/UNIDO Bio-Fuels Seminar in Africa

 

Date and Time: 30 July – 1 August 2007
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Programme:

In response to the rapidly increasing interest in biofuels in Africa the African Union Commission, the Government of Brazil and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) jointly organised the First High-Level Seminar on Biofuels in Africa on 30 July – 1 August 2007 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

 

The COMPETE project actively supported this high-level seminar through the participation of COMPETE members as speakers, experts and session chairs.


Prof. Francis Yamba, CEEEZ, Zambia, gave an introductory presentation on the COMPETE project highlighting the pre-requisites for sustainable biofuels development programmes in Africa.

 

1) Implementation of National Biofuel Strategies

African Governments should formulate strategies aimed at addressing critical issues such as to promote local demand for biofuels as a share of the fossil fuel market, determine blending ratios, establish biofuel standards, recommend production modalities, consider environmental and social concerns, and provide appropriate incentives.

 

2) Establishment of Legal and Regulatory Frameworks

African Governments should set up legal and regulatory frameworks aimed at guiding and regulating the biofuel industry and enforcing sustainable use of land and resources to avoid negative environmental impacts of the biofuel industry.

 

3) Promotion of Integrated Agro-industry Farming Policies
African Governments should take into account the interrelation of biofuel industries with livestock, farming, fisheries, and the conservation of forests and watershed areas to ensure maximised national benefits and sustainable development. This integrated approach is important for coherent and sustainable water and land management in African countries.

 

4) Support of ACP Biofuel Research

African Governments should support local and regional research into suitable feedstock, process and logistics optimisation, economic analysis for cost effective solutions, and the transfer of suitable biofuel technologies (including the conversion of ligno-cellulosic material).

 

Mamadou Dianka, UEMOA, Burkina Faso, presented regional biofuels activities in Western Africa. Stanford Mwakasonda, ERC-UCT, South Africa, Dr. Ibrahim Togola, Mali-Folkecenter, Estomih Sawe, TaTEDO, Tanzania, Kingiri Senelwa, MOI University, Kenya, Dr. Rocio Diaz.Chavez, Imperial College, UK, Francis Johnson, SEI, Sweden, and Dr. Rainer Janssen, WIP, Germany, acted as experts in various thematic sessions of the biofuels seminar.


More information on the First High-Level Seminar on Biofuels in Africa
is available at: www.africa-union.org/biofuel.htm.

 

Download Seminar Programme

 

As an outcome of the First High-Level Seminar on Biofuels in Africa an Addis Ababa Declaration on Sustainable Biofuels Development in Africa was formulated.


Download Declaration: English - French


Along the lines expressed in this Declaration the COMPETE project is committed to continue cooperation with the AU, the Government of Brazil, UNIDO and other interested stakeholders and support Sustainable Biofuels Development in Africa.

 

Download Summary Report of The First High-level Biofuels Seminar in Africa

 

More info/reports/pictures from Addis Ababa are available at www.unido.org and
www.iisd.ca.