Programme and Presentations – West Africa workshop

Monday 23 May 2016
0930 Welcome address
James Robinson, Country Sector Leader, Energy, SNV Ghana
0945Introduction to the Smart Villages Initiative
Dr. John Holmes, University of Oxford and Co-Leader, Smart Villages Initiative
1015Keynote address
Kwabena Otu-Danquah, Director, Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Promotion, Energy Commission, Government of Ghana
1045 Workshop objectives
Dr. Bernie Jones, Co-Leader, Smart Villages Initiative
1100 Tea Break
1130Panel Session 1: Opportunities for improving energy access in West Africa
Yuri Lima Handem, ECOWAS Renewable Energy Entrepreneurship Support Coordinator, ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Allwell Nwankwo, Lighting Africa Programme, International Finance Corporation
Abdulmutalib Yussuff, Head, Research Unit and Senior Research Officer, National Centre for Energy Efficiency and Conservation, Energy Commission of Nigeria
Kwabena Otu-Danquah, Director, Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Promotion, Energy Commission, Government of Ghana
1230Discussion
1245Findings of the Smart Villages engagement programme in East Africa
Dr. John Holmes, University of Oxford and Co-Leader, Smart Villages Initiative
1300Lunch
1415 Entrepreneurs in the off-grid energy ecosystem in West Africa: Elevator pitches
Kwasi Owusu Gyeabour, Barefoot Power, Ghana
Fatima Oyiza Ademoh, Ajima Farms and General Enterprises Nigeria Limited
Sayouba Guira, Nafa Naana, Burkina Faso
Sokhna Khadidia Thiam, Consortium Sahélien d’Energies Renouvelable (COSEER), Senegal
Kofi Tandoh, Azuri Technologies, Ghana
Olasimbo Sojinrin, Solar Sister, Nigeria
Akua Adu, PEG Solar, Ghana
Ifeanyi Orajaka, Green Village Enterprises (GVE) Limited, Nigeria
Ron Acquah, Solarkiosk, Ghana
1515Tea Break
1545Plenary Session: Discussion on entrepreneurial case studies
1645 Recommendations from the day’s session
Professor Howard Alper, Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Ottawa, Chair, Science, Technology, and Innovation Council (Canada) and Member Advisory Board, Smart Villages Initiative
Tuesday, 24 May
0915Supporting energy access in off-grid areas: The role of public, private and multi-lateral investment
Godfrey Mwindaare, West Africa Director, Acumen Fund
Dr. Peter Förster, Chargé de Programme, ENDEV Bénin
Bokar Ture, Chief Operating Officer, Solektra Intrenational
Eluma Obibuaku, Vice President (Power), Africa Finance Corporation, Nigeria
1030Discussion
1100 Tea Break
1100 Breakout Session 1:
How can financing bottlenecks facing off-grid energy projects be alleviated?
What are the mechanisms through which co-ordination between different financing agencies at the local, national and multi-lateral be improved for off-grid energy projects?
How can investment be promoted in the production and dissemination of improved cook-stoves?
1230Report back to Plenary
1300Lunch
1400Panel Session 3: Linking improved energy access to increased opportunities for gainful employment
Eugene Ikejemba, PhD Candidate, University of Twente, Netherlands
Benjamin Palliere and Kalifa Koulibaly, GERES West Africa
Dr. Kelleh Gbawuru-Mansaray, Consultant, UNIDO, Sierra Leone
James Robinson, Country Sector Leader, Energy, SNV Ghana
1545Tea Break
1615Plenary discussion:
What are the framework conditions necessary for improved energy access to contribute to improved livelihoods and productivity increases in rural areas?
How can women gain from improved energy access?
What is the role of credit in promoting rural enterprises in these areas?
1730Recommendations from the day’s session
Professor Howard Alper, Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Ottawa
Chair, Science, Technology, and Innovation Council (Canada) and Member Advisory Board, Smart Villages Initiative
Wednesday, 25 May
0915 Panel Session 4: Linking improved energy access to increased access to essential
services (markets, health, education, democracy)
Yusuf Mohammad Ganda, Sokoto Energy Research Centre, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Nigeria
Abdoul Karim Dosso, Project Manager, GVEP, Senegal
Ifenayi Orajaka, CEO, Green Village Electricity Ltd.
Samuel Adoboe, EnDev, GIZ Ghana
Dr. Thierry Tovignan, CERAAS, Benin and Senegal
1015Breakout Session 2: How can improved energy access contribute to broad-based socio-economic growth in rural communities?
Can community ownership of off-grid energy access projects be improved and does it increase long-termeconomic sustainability of these projects?
What steps can be taken to increase local women’s participation in the design and implementation of improved cookstove interventions?
1200 Report back to Plenary
1230Closing Remarks
Dr. John Holmes, University of Oxford and Co-Leader, Smart Villages Initiative
1300Lunch
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