HELIO at CSD 15...

Energy and Ecosystem Resilience: Recommendations for sub-Saharan Africa was a side event was held May 7th during the 15th session of UN Commission for Sustainable Development. It consisted of a series of presentations and moderated discussion.

Event Overview

The side event centered around HELIO's newly released report: A preliminary assessment of energy and ecosystem resilience in ten African countries.  This report is an initial attempt to identify points of vulnerability as they relate to climate change-related events and sketch out what changes are needed, both politically and programmatically, to increase resilience. The current state of vulnerability and potential for adaptation is outlined and key results from in-country assessments are presented. Preliminary recommendations on how best to ensure that issues of sustainable energy development, adaptation and resiliency are central components of any poverty reduction strategy conclude the report.  The participating countries were: Burkina Faso; Cameroon; Democratic Republic of Congo; Kenya; Mali; Nigeria; South Africa; Senegal; Tanzania; and, Uganda. HELIO reporters carried out the country studies.

The objectives of the side event were three-fold:

1. The first was to launch the HELIO report;
2. the second was to gauge the relevancy of the work; and,
   
3. the third--if the work was deemed relevant--was to collect feedback on how to refine and deepen the approach.
   

Brief presentations were made summarising the HELIO report and findings from two of the in-country reports: Nigeria and Uganda. Michel HAMELIN from France's Agency for Environment and Energy management (ADEME) moderated the session.

Discussion Summary

The role of women in energy management and use needs to be better highlighted in the work, particularly identifying the entry points of women's contribution to the energy equation and addressing how these contributions could be mainstreamed. Several participants also noted that the role of gender (both male and female) must not be forgotten.  While addressing women's contribution to energy source management is important, understanding how men fit into that process is equally central. Dis-aggregating data on gender is also important. A suggested approach for deepening the work was to also outline in practical terms how eco-system management can be used to increase energy system resilience.  Addressing the impacts of destructive activities on energy access could also be part of this component.  One participant cautioned that peri-urban issues need to be addressed particularly from resource use and vulnerability perspectives. With regards how to focus the `work, looking at the energy sector from the Millennium Development Goals perspective was recommended.

The panel participants were:

• Michel HAMELIN: Deputy Director of International Affairs, ADEME (France)
• Timothy BYAKOLA: Program Coordinator, Climate and Development Initiative (Uganda)
• Ewah Out ELERI: Director, International Center for Energy, Environment & Development (Nigeria)
• Laura WILLIAMSON: Project Coordinator, HELIO International (France)

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development provided support for this work.