|
Proceedings of the SADC Regional Capacity Building and Policy Workshop on Biofuels |
|
Sunday, 20 April 2008 18:59 |
|
Citizens United for Renewable Energies and Sustainability (C U R E S) - a network of NGOs and CBOs around the world calling for ambitious programs to promote renewable energies, received funds from the Southern Africa Trust to facilitate a programme to develop common policy on biofuels and related trade policy that deals with food security and sustainable development for civil society in the SADC region.
The programme aims to run 2 regional policy workshops and 2 regional capacity building workshops on bio energy and biofuels on the SADC region. The workshops will be used to identify locally based stakeholder organisations that are involved in bio energy and biofuels in the region who can help with compiling information and comment on policy papers. The workshops will also be used to assess progress, build shared understandings, build capacity and knowledge and develop policy. All work will be fed directly into regional and international processes in order to impact on biofuel policy development in SADC and give effect to the voice of the poor. This document represents the proceedings of the first CURES Southern African regional Capacity building and Policy workshop held in Johannesburg on the 11th and 13th of March 2008. This workshop was preceded by a basic information sharing session held on the 10th March 2007 which focused on providing basic information on biofuels NGOs, CBOs and small scale farmers who did needed basic knowledge on biofuels.
The capacity building workshop on the 11th March 2008 began with an introduction to the CURES biofuels programme, which was followed by a number of presentations from various countries including Namibia, Zambia, South Africa and Mozambique. The presentations in the afternoon of the day looked at various issues including experiences with some forms of biofuels like biogas and Ethanol, the issues around sustainable biofuels, sustainable agriculture as well as looking at the role of Co-operatives in creating equity & a vibrant local economy in the SADC region. There was a lot of discussion between the presentations that allowed delegates to debate the issues that came up. The presentations can be found at this link.
On the afternoon of the 13th March, CURES Southern Africa participated in a workshop where CURES researchers presented the terms of reference for the two papers 1) on food security and rural development and 2) on trade and certification. There was a lot of discussion and input made to refine the draft terms of reference and a number of delegates from various countries in the region volunteered to actively provide feedback and input during the process of developing the policy papers. The draft policy papers will be presented at the next CURES Biofuels Capacity Building and Policy workshop to take place in August 2008 and then finalised in December 2008. |
