Renewable energies can play a crucial role for the economic and social development in rural and urban areas. To increase understanding and awareness about this role in the target countries, workshops on supportive policy frameworks were planned within the framework of INSABA. During these workshops, representatives of the four target countries' governments, decision makers and executives from ministries, Energy Regulatory Boards, were to be brought together with experts from European countries. Together they should review legal frameworks for energy issues and discuss opportunities and details of legal as well as market based instruments for the promotion of the productive use of renewables. Experts from European countries and advisers from the partner countries were to be asked to advise on formulation of laws and regulations that are enforceable from a political, juridical and technical point of view, always keeping in mind the specific situation and respective need for RE in the target countries.

Since the preparations for this activity fell in the same time as the Africa-EU Energy Forum that took place in Berlin, March 6-7, 2007, it was decided to integrate the INSABA efforts with this event. Therefore, instead of organising an additional isolated workshop, INSABA invited four government representatives from the target countries for a five day workshop in Berlin from March 5-9 that included participation in the Africa-EU Energy Forum. This ensured that the INSABA event also covered the latest political discussion on Africa-EU partnership on RE promotion.

On the two days after the Energy Forum, round table discussions were held with focus on formulation and implementation of supporting and promotional frameworks for RE. This consultation was followed by an exchange in parliament with German MPs Dr. Hermann Scheer and Hans-Josef Fell, who are also founding members and chair persons of the World Council on Renewable Energies. The workshop programme was supplemented with field visits to examples of productive use of RE and other RE applications in Berlin.


Discussion with Dr. Hermann Scheer

As a result of this workshop the four government representatives have committed themselves to support the idea of the INSABA project and the implementation of RE based businesses and services. The Meeting gave a strong impression of the European support in Africa and forged new relationships between INSABA partners and national governments.