Dear members and partners,
Warm greetings from the ACCESS Secretariat, we hope that this correspondence finds you well and safe, wherever you are. For any of you that has been affected by the pandemic - our thoughts are with you.
Here are updates from the ACCESS Secretariat in the last 3 months. As always, we'd love to hear from you regarding any of these updates. Please write to us at communications@access-coalition.org and we'll get back to you. Meanwhile, do keep safe.
From the ACCESS Secretariat,
Jacqueline Kimeu & Edith Karimi
WE HAVE A NEW WEBSITE https://access-coalition.org/ In early June, ACCESS engaged a consultant to revamp our website and turn it into a more dynamic platform that embodies the mission of the Coalition. While still maintaining our brand identity, we wanted it to be a resource hub for members to learn and share with each other. As we continue to tweak the finer details, we invite you to check it out at https://access-coalition.org/ and let us know what you think. We'd also encourage you to send us any updates, news articles and blog posts that you would like to share with the members, we'd be happy to share them on the website.
For any questions, suggestions, or comments, please contact us at communications@access-coalition.org and we'll connect with you.
The online annual meeting of the Africa Development Bank took place on 25th - 27th August 2020. During the virtual forum, the Bank highlighted its efforts to ensure that African countries were cushioned against the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In April, the Bank’s Board of Directors approved a COVID-19 Response Facility of up to $10 billion.
As part of our advocacy efforts, ACCESSshared a letter that calls for the Bank to prioritize a just sustainable energy transition given the opportunities and risks associated with Covid-19 response and recovery packages. ACCESS offered the following recommendations to the Bank in the spirit of furthering progress towards universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy, and to building back better.
Prioritise access to decentralized renewable electricity and clean cooking solutions as integral components of a sustainable and inclusive energy transition.
Scale-up investments in energy for community health and education and for productive activities to build community resilience.
In line with our World Bank advocacy efforts, ACCESS partnered with the Bretton Woods Project (BWP), a UK-based watchdog of the World Bank and IMF. Jacqueline Kimeu, ACCESS International Coordinator penned down an article calling for the World Bank to ensure that the new Africa energy strategy is inclusive and pro-poor. You can read the article here.
RECRUITMENT OF WEST AFRICA REGIONAL NODE
ACCESS received four applications from CSOs with a strong track record on energy access advocacy in Ghana. The recruitment of the West Africa regional node is part of the ACCESS global strategy that will see CSOs in sub-Saharan Africa self-organize around regional hubs in East, West and Southern region.
Interviews with the applicants will be held in the first two weeks of September, and the members will be notified once the suitable organization is selected. The successful CSO is expected to lead national and regional advocacy activities in the wider West Africa region. To view the detailed ToRs, Click here.
The ACCESS Secretariat hosted by the Kenya Climate Change Working Group supports the coordination of activities in Kenya and the wider East Africa region. The recruitment of the Southern Africa node will be done towards the end of the year.
UPDATE ON SOUTHERN REGION CONSULTANCY
In the month of August 2020, the ACCESS Secretariat in collaboration with the Learning Group conducted interviews with prospective consultants in the Southern region. A suitable candidate was identified to document how CSOs in the Southern region are using the civic space to raise the voices of the people without access to energy.
The consultant has since shared a draft report which is currently undergoing review by the Learning Group. The main outcomes of the report will be shared with the members towards the end of September.
The same assessment will be replicated in the Western region targeting the Franco-phone countries where ACCESS Coalition has presence. This is set to commence in the month of September.
ACCESS WORKING GROUPS
The ACCESS secretariat is working closely with the Working Group leads to revive the SDG 7 and AfDB/ World Bank, and Learning groups. This year, the focus is on reviewing the strategies and engaging Southern CSOs in the Working Group. Below are the leaders of the Working Group:
Learning Group - Chaired by IIED and Energypedia
SDG 7 WG - Chaired by Hivos and CAFOD
AfDB/ World Bank - Chaired by SYND, Oxfam to co-chair the Group
NEW ACCESS MEMBERS
We'd like to extend a heartfelt welcome to the new members who have joined the ACCESS Coalition. These are:
Young Volunteers for the Environment (YVE) - Ghana
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).
