access programs are meeting the needs of the poorest people in their countries. Harness each other’s strengths in order to have the greatest impact. There will be disappointments, but you need to get up, get up and try again! In reviewing the workshop objectives it was agreed that they had all been met. Conclusions and recommendations Different countries in the East Africa sub-region are at different stages of executing the SE4ALL roadmap. But there seems to be desire by countries in the region to move together as East African group. This dictates that Civil Society improves its own coordinated action within the East African sub-region. The environment and capacity of CSOs to engage with the other two SE4ALL varies across countries but opportunities exist in each country and within ‘pillars’ the region if CSOs are ready to take them. While the need for funding for governments is recognised, CSO participation is not cost free and also needs to be supported. It is generally accepted that if SE4ALL is to be realised CSOs must champion opportunities for the poor since energy is the catalyst/foundation for meeting all MDGs. There is need to establish a new energy narrative reflected in the definition and delivery of energy at country level. Civil society has a role to play in establishing this new narrative, one which recognizes the full range of services which poor people want, need and have a right to. In different countries, emphasis is on different aspects of energy. For example, in Uganda it is in oil, in Kenya oil and geothermal, while in Tanzania it is on gas. A lot of emphasis is on national grid whereas the poor are off those grids. Energy for the poor is largely focused on lighting to the disregard of other needs such as cooking. In countries such as Uganda, there are no standards for renewable energy except for solar power, making it extra difficult to attract the needed investment.
access programs are meeting the needs of the poorest people in their countries. Harness each other’s strengths in order to have the greatest impact. There will be disappointments, but you need to get up, get up and try again! In reviewing the workshop objectives it was agreed that they had all been met. Conclusions and recommendations Different countries in the East Africa sub-region are at different stages of executing the SE4ALL roadmap. But there seems to be desire by countries in the region to move together as East African group. This dictates that Civil Society improves its own coordinated action within the East African sub-region. The environment and capacity of CSOs to engage with the other two SE4ALL ‘pillars’ varies across countries but opportunities exist in each country and within the region if CSOs are ready to take them. While the need for funding for governments is recognised, CSO participation is not cost free and also needs to be supported. It is generally accepted that if SE4ALL is to be realised CSOs must champion opportunities for the poor since energy is the catalyst/foundation for meeting all MDGs. There is need to establish a new energy narrative reflected in the definition and delivery of energy at country level. Civil society has a role to play in establishing this new narrative, one which recognizes the full range of services which poor people want, need and have a right to. In different countries, emphasis is on different aspects of energy. For example, in Uganda it is in oil, in Kenya oil and geothermal, while in Tanzania it is on gas. A lot of emphasis is on national grid whereas the poor are off those grids. Energy for the poor is largely focused on lighting to the disregard of other needs such as cooking. In countries such as Uganda, there are no standards for renewable energy except for solar power, making it extra difficult to attract the needed investment.
2012_regional_workshop_east_africa_se4all_practical_action_and_hivos_final_report.docx