Cooking Energy and the SE4All Agenda - Panel Report Bonn 2013
Overview
Access to energy is more than access to electricity. This panel discussion gave an update on the SE4All initiative and discussed the role that cooking energy plays on its agenda. Panelists from different institutions shared their perspectives and discussed the further need for advocacy with particular attention to the role of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves.
| ► | Moderator: Dr Shonali Pachauri, Senior Researcher, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis |
| ► | Panelists: Leslie Cordes, Senior Director, Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves Lennart Deridder, Head of Section Energy Policy, European Commission Koen Peters, Senior Policy Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands Wisdom Togobo, Director of Renewable Energy, Ministry of Energy, Ghana |
| ► | Rapporteur: Samson Atsbha |
Key Points Discussed
The following are reflections from the panelists regarding cooking energy and SE4All agenda
- The UN secretary General is pushing SE4All agenda integrating Cooking Energy as one of the high impact opportunity.
- The fact that SE4All is high level stage led by the secretary general, it is supporting the alliance through advocacy and putting Cooking Energy in the international agenda
- It needs to be understood that SE4All and Cooking Energy are not a separate agenda rather integrated in the holistic approach of addressing the energy demand of the beneficiaries. However, continuous lobbying is also required at country level to internalize the concept.
- KFW shares the objectives of SE4All and continues supporting the SE4All initiative including the cookstoves intervention in countries where energy is a focal program. Interventions are initiated to bridge the missing links in the overall initiative such as market development.
- From the Netherlands side, the focus will be in gender which encompasses the issues of clean kitchen and cooking. Apart from grant, more finance will be available in the form of revolving fund, guarantee fund e.t.c with the objective of promoting SME’s. However, this is under discussion.
- It was indicated the Ghana government is committed to achieve the milestones set in the SE4All initiative at country level even surpassing the target as long as there is a commitment from the government. To support this effort, RE Energy law is passed, detail action plan for SE4All is prepared and recently established a secretariat for SE4All initiative.
1. How do we avoid double counting and reporting in connection with the existing reporting channel in the SE4All?
It was explained in the context of GACC, reports are coming from various member countries through the reporting format already communicated to the partners. GACC is utilizing the data for further analysis and report to the alliance donors. However, the GACC acknowledges the need for a joint effort to create a centralized reporting system for the data coming from various global initiatives such us SE4All and other partners. Furthermore it was recommended that the GACC secretariat and members jointly with SE4All should review existing monitoring structures, and develop a document or toolkit that identifies gaps in current reporting and explains what is needed to make reporting comprehensive.
2. Why is the SE4All focusing on electrification whilst the majority of rural households cook with biomass?
The panelist forwarded it is difficult to single out cooking as SE4All is promoting energy in a holistic approach in a way to address the overall energy needs of the people. Besides, the fact that electrification is the driver of local economy in general, the SE4All will continue focusing on both electrification and cook stoves by mainstreaming and promoting local SME’s.
3. Is KFW in a position to finance cookstove interventions which are relatively small investments?
The panelist from KFW stated MFIs are major partners and focus is on market based sustainable development. Hence, there is a possibility for financial support for cook stove intervention provided that adequate tools are in place which ensures adequate an sustainable market.
4. Is the "100 million by 2020" goal really achievable?
The audience of the forum posed a question and were skeptical in achieving the goal in terms of the complex challenges facing in the supply and demand of the cook stoves interventions. The panelist agreed that the targets set are achievable regardless of the challenges in the process as far are the existing initiatives underway keep their momentum through continued support from the international community.
Other remarks by rapporteur:
The topic was interesting but not enough time was allocated to gather feedback from the participants.
Further Information
