ECA to host an Energy Sector Stakeholders' Policy Dialogue Forum
By Andrew Allimadi, 13 December 2005

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA); are holding a regional forum on Power Sector Reform from 15 - 16 December. The theme of the forum, which is taking place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is "Making African Power Sustainable." Senior officials and high-level professionals in the energy sector from over 40 African countries are expected to attend.

The forum follows a detailed study by the Sustainable Development Division of ECA and UNEP, on Making African Power Sustainable. The study reveals that power sector reforms have been necessary as previous state monopolies were mainly characterized by unreliable power supply, low capacity utilization, poor maintenance, and high transmission and distribution losses among other problems. The study then assesses the sustainability of power sector in Africa in the light of the reforms, including a detailed analysis of the process of reform in fourteen sub-Saharan African countries.

The forum will discuss the social, economic and environmental impacts of power sector reforms; discuss recommendations on making the power sector more economically sound; and map out strategies for making electric power more widely available to African consumers within the social and environmental constraints. The forum will produce a report on the above issues to guide future policy in the African power sector.

Background

The power sector has been identified as one of the key elements for poverty alleviation and attainment of the millennium development goals in Africa. Access to reliable and adequate electricity services has been linked to industrialization and growth. The Sustainable Development Division of ECA, in partnership with UNEP has thus carried out an in-depth analysis of the economic, social and environmental impacts of power sector reforms. The overall objective is to facilitate integration of social-economic and environmental concerns into the power sector reforms in sub-Saharan Africa, and define the roles of various stakeholders in ensuring sound implementation of reforms.