In order to consolidate the progress made so far in the drive for more energy efficiency and renewable energy utilisation, the board of the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) has adopted its 2016 work programme for greater energy access.

The work programme among others, is expected to facilitate the dream of keeping energy in the right quantity and quality in West Africa towards an integrated region which favours the development of energy conditions that the communities in the region require for economic growth. The Programme was adopted at the 11^th Meeting of the ECREEE board which met in Praia, Cabo Verde to endorse the ECREEE 2015 Work Plan Implementation Report, the ECREEE 2016 Work Programme as well as its annual Budget.

The Board also appraised and applauded the strides made by ECREEE in the initiatives of developing the national action plans regarding Renewable Energy (RE) and Energy Efficiency (EE), Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL), the policy on bio energy, studies carried out in Burkina Faso and Senegal, gender mainstreaming, and the launching of clean energy corridor, etc.

During the opening of the board meeting, the goodwill message from the ECOWAS Commission expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and the government of Cabo Verde for the effort to support regional integration programmes and the support for ECREEE.

The ECOWAS Commissioner for Energy and Mines Dr. Morlaye Bangoura also expressed gratitude to the Kingdom of Spain, the Government of Austria, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) for their financial and technical support to ECREEE, and indeed the ECOWAS region’s sustainable energy programmes. He also welcomed on board new partners, such as the GIZ, and the European Commission.

The Commissioner further disclosed that the European Union (EU) has announced an initiative for the solar corridor in SAHEL, and hoped that with the support of the EU, ECREEE would make an impact in this region According to him, the upcoming activities indicate the relevance of ECREEE in all sectors of human development and especially for rural electrification.

He congratulated ECREEE for more engagement and larger commitment in promoting the vision of the Centre for greater access to cities and countries adding that ECOWAS will continue to support member states to supply needed equipment and energy components including capacity building for energy management in the region as it was another way of ensuring that projects implemented are adapted to the local conditions. A good example in this regard, is the model for mini-grids.

The ECOWAS Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Saccoh felicitated with the board for the improvements witnessed in ECREEE while she served on the board. She also commended the improvement in administrative activities which would have a lasting impression on the ECREEE legacy.

The Meeting was attended by six Board members and chaired by Commissioner Bangoura. It welcomed new member Mrs. Ursula Stela who is a representative of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), while acknowledging the financial and technical contribution of ADA in the implementation of the activities of ECREEE.

Mrs. Stela noted that Austria was delighted to see that ECREEE successfully achieved most of the planned activities and targets of its 2015 Work Plan.

She congratulated ECREEE for its successful launch of several important new programms some of which she said the ADA is convinced could act as a “regional game changer” in terms of capacity development: such as the solar thermal programm West Africa, the West African Cooking Alliance, and the ECOWAS Small Scale Hydropower programme.

The Representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Mr. Alois Mhlanga expressed UNIDO’s willingness to facilitate the evaluation of first ECREEE Business Plan, as well as the development of the Post 2016 ECREEE Strategy.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Energy, Industry and Tourism of Cabo Verde, Mr. Anildo Costa, General Director of Energy thanked the board especially the ECREEE Executive Director, Mr. Mahama Kappiah, for the successes recorded so far.

He said the objectives of the sustainable energy initiative for all are perfectly aligned with the strategies developed for the energy sector in Cabo Verde including the role it will play in the development of the country.

Stemming from the close collaboration with ECREEE, Mr. Costa expressed optimism that Cabo Verde will reach its 100% renewable energy and universal energy access targets.