(ISSUE NO: 4) The ACCESS newsletter will now be coming to you quarterly.
OUR WORK WITH SEforALL
ACCESS participated in the Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) Charrettes in Amsterdam, Netherlands, from 18 – 20 June, 2019. The Charreteswere convened to challenge the status quo and generate disruptive ideas and solutions to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7).
There were four sets of Charrettes: Last mile, Clean cooking, Financing -‘bridging the gap’, and Data and evidence. ACCESS was invited to participate in the 'Financing' Charette. You can read a recap of the Charrettes here. The ACCESS coalition also presented a road-map for the People Centered Accelerator (PCA) ‘Last Mile’ work stream, during the meeting held on 20th June 2019. Starting with Kenya, the ACCESS Coalition is partnering with Oxfam, World Resources Institute (WRI), Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), and Practical Action on a series of events aimed at advancing inclusive and integrated approaches to energy planning through advocacy by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues.
REGIONAL COORDINATION NODES
ACCESS is leading the SEforALL - People Centered Accelerator (PCA) work stream on the 'National Strategies Project'. The project is aimed at ensuring that civil society organizations carry out informed advocacy through capacity building and Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues (MSDs). The Kenya Climate Change Working Group - a member of ACCESS based in Kenya - is the coordinating node for East Africa. The project will leverage on the Energy Act and the African Development Bank 'Country Strategy Paper' process in Kenya. The pilot event is expected to take place in November 2019. Ghana and Zambia have been identified as the focal points for West and Southern Africa respectively. The Terms of Reference have already been formulated and will be shared with interested member countries in due course.
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
Three ACCESS members representing the Southern, Western and Eastern regions were supported by Hivos to participate in the African Development Bank CSO forum in Abidjan. These were: Gilda Monjane from Mozambique, Faustina Boakye from Ghana and John Kioli from Kenya.
In collaboration with Oxfam, Hivos, World Resources Institute and African Coalition for Sustainable Energy Access (ACSEA), ACCESS co-convened a side event titled on Innovative approaches for accelerating the implementation of Africa renewable energy initiative( AREI). ACCESS borrowed from experiences shared by members while Hivos and Oil Change International focused on financing for Decentralized Energy Systems (DES). The second side event was on Maximizing Productive Use benefits for decentralized Renewable Energy Systems for Last Mile Electrification and Women’s Economic Empowerment.ACCESS shared lessons learned on the role of energy in empowering women while Oxfam presented their research findings on electrification and women economic empowerment. Hivos shared on their Energy Change Lab program in Tanzania.
Due to a wider lack of civil society consultation by the bank during the formulation of the Country Strategy Papers, ACCESS members draftedkey messages that were shared during the AfDB CSO forum in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. ACCESS will continue to engage the bank and monitor the progress on Country Strategy Papers in member countries.
If you have any country-specific updates on AfDB to share with the wider membership, please write to communications@access-coalition.org
WEBINAR ON PRODUCTIVE USE OF ENERGY
ACCESS learning group comprising of Practical Action, Energypedia, GERES, IIED and the Wuppertal institute held a webinar onProductive Use of Energy (PUE) and the role of Civil Society Organizations in promoting PUE. The webinar attracted lots of attention with prospective organizations inquiring on ACCESS membership.
The Learning Group is currently reviewing the UP-SCALE concept note and finding avenues for fundraising.
WE HAVE MOVED OFFICES
The ACCESS secretariat has since moved from the CAFOD office in London to Nairobi. The secretariat which comprises of the International Coordinator and the Communications and Membership Manager is currently hosted at the Kenya Climate Change Working Group (KCCWG) - an ACCESS member - in their Nairobi office.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Multi-stakeholder Dialogues under the 'National Strategies Project' to be held in November 2019, Nairobi, Kenya.
Capacity Building workshop under the 'National Strategies Project' to be held in September 2019, Nairobi, Kenya.
SEforALL Forum on May 26-28, 2020 in Kigali, Rwanda.
HELP US TO BUILD AN INSPIRING COLLECTION OF STORIES
We know that our members have powerful photos and stories to share.
These will be published on the ACCESS website and amplified on social media.
Want to share any upcoming event, publication or update with other ACCESS members? Please write to communications@access-coalition.org
ACCESS is hosted by the Kenya Climate Change Working Group.
Our offices are located at the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority plaza, Dunga Rd., Nairobi Kenya. You can reach us on +254 (720 739 775).
