ENHANCING THE CAPACITY OF PRIVATE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS (PFIs) IN AFRICA FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, CLEAN AND LOW-CARBON TECHNOLOGIES.

The potential for renewable energy in Africa is huge. However, reliable energy supply is one of the major constraints to economic development in most African countries. African countries also have critical need for energy efficient, clean and low carbon technologies to help improve value addition, employment, household income and socio-economic growth. Private financial institutions (PFIs) such as commercial and investment banks, insurance, leasing, pension and trust companies, retirement and private equity funds in Africa have enormous financial resources that could be mobilized to finance renewable energy, energy efficient, clean and low carbon technologies. However, several PFIs still structure their operations and portfolios along the traditional way of doing business.

It is in the light of this situation that the United Nations University – Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA) in collaboration with the African Development Institute (ADI) of the African Development Bank (AfDB) is undertaking an initiative to enhance the capacity of PFIs in Africa to develop innovative financial products and services for renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean and low-carbon technologies.   

As part of this initiative, UNU-INRA carried out scoping study in Cameroon, Ghana, Tanzania, Tunisia and Zambia to take stock and review financial products and services that are currently developed or under consideration for renewable energy, energy efficient, clean and low-carbon technologies. It also aimed at assessing the opportunities and constraints to developing innovative investment and financial instruments for these mechanisms.

As a follow up to the scoping study, UNU-INRA and ADI is organizing two expert meetings. The Francophone segment will be held in Yaoundé, Cameroon from May 25 to 26, 2012 and the Anglophone segment in Lusaka, Zambia, from June 8 to 9, 2012. Click on the concept notes for the expert meetings for more information.

 The objectives of the expert meetings are to (1) provide the  forum for participants to share and exchange ideas, experiences and success stories and to explore innovative ways for developing financial products and services targeting energy efficiency (EE), renewable energy (RE), reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD)/REDD+ and clean development mechanisms (CDM) projects in Africa, (2) identify  the key elements, processes and constraints that should be taken into consideration in developing a training manual to enhance the capacity of PFIs to integrate these mechanisms in for example, corporate branding,  financial products development, assets pricing and management, underwriting processes, due diligence, investment returns and risks analysis and (3) determine  some of the policies, regulations, and incentives that will be needed from governments in Africa to help promote innovative financial products and services for these mechanisms.

 Conceptnote_Francophone_Expertmeeting

Call for the Expression of Interest into UNU-INRA Registry of Researchers (RORs)

The United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA) is creating a new Registry of Researchers (RORs) as a component of its operational modalities. The main goal of the Registry is to identify researchers with outstanding professional experience in the area of natural resources management who are willing to collaborate and undertake research activities with UNU-INRA.

In view of the above, UNU-INRA is in the process of updating information in its database and receiving new applications. We hereby request interested researchers to submit their recent CV including area of specialization and contact information at their earliest convenience to unuinra@gmail.com or andoh@inra.unu.edu.

*Please note: Interested persons should have a minimum of a PhD degree in agricultural science, economics, agricultural economics, natural resource economics, environmental/ ecological economics, social science, environmental science, international relations, law or related discipline.

Research and Policy for Sustainable Development of Natural Resources in Africa

-Dr. Elias Ayuk

Wednesday 7 December 2011

Accra, Ghana

The Director of the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA), Dr. Elias Ayuk has stated that creating an effective link between research and policy making could be a critical element for sustainable development of Africa’s natural resources.

The Director observed that developing countries need to reorient current strategies on science, technology and policy formation in order to achieve long-term benefits; undergo large-scale structural transformation; and reduce risk for the poor and vulnerable populations. In addition, he stressed that the experiences of past structural adjustment initiatives should caution African governments against ignoring trade-offs and political/economic considerations which are conditionalities for foreign assistance in capacity building; the facilitation of green technologies and skills transfer ; and the protection of losers from adjustment costs.

Commenting on the extractive industries in Africa, Dr. Ayuk encouraged transparency as a major measure in fighting corruption in the exploitation of mineral resources. Furthermore, Governments should re-consider how to participate effectively in the mining sector through joint ventures with the private sector. This is to allow them to benefit from the economic rents derived from mineral exploitation.

Governments should also regulate and encourage small scale miners. These remarks were made when the Director presented the synthesis of the UNU-INRA International Conference on Sustainable Development 2011.

Thirty two (32) papers summarizing research findings (including twelve (12) posters) were presented by academicians and policy makers from across the world during the 3-day conference.

These presentations can be downloaded from the publication section of the UNU-INRA website.

The UNU Twin Institute Structure Can Help Reduce Brain Drain in Developing Countries

- Prof. Dr. Konrad Osterwalder, Rector of UNU, Tokyo

5^th December 2011

The Rector of the United Nations University, Prof. Dr. Konrad Osterwalder has stated that the Twin Institute structure whereby a group of researchers, teachers and students from two countries develop a joint research and teaching agenda which is being adopted by the United Nations University will strengthen the academic basis of the developing host country and also reduce brain drain. “Brain drain”, he said, was an unlikely consequence since the reputation and scientific quality of the groups in the developing and developed countries representing the two twinning partners would eventually become equal at a high level. UNU’s capacity development in the developing world would then be strengthened, and the scholars in the developed countries would be better versed to respond to very specific conditions.

Prof. Dr. Konrad Osterwalder made this remark at the opening of the UNU- Institute for Natural Resources in Africa’s (UNU-INRA)’s International Conference on the Sustainable Development of Natural Resources in Africa 2011. The conference was part of activities to mark the 25th anniversary of UNU-INRA.

The three-day conference was attended by representatives from government Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Ghana; the diplomatic community, UNU staff worldwide, the donor community, as well as academicians from various universities across the world.

Prof. Osterwalder congratulated UNU-INRA for organizing a successful conference and admonished participants to actively think of how to support the Institute and its operating units in different parts of Africa and its twinning partner in Tokyo.

The representative of the Minister of Education urged participants to be bold, candid and objective in their assessment and discussions on sustainable development issues facing Africa. “This will help the institute to learn from its successes and failures over the past 25 years as it thinks of delivering science-based knowledge to help the continent manage its richly endowed natural resources”.

The conference, among other things, created the platform for dialogue amongst academicians and policy makers on charting a new course for future research, training and capacity development in Africa. It was also to mobilize African perspectives on the development of natural resources for the Rio+20 conference on sustainable development in 2012.

          Group photograph of participants at the International Conference

Director of UNU-IIGH visits UNU-INRA