Pathways for the Provision of Bio-Energy in Sub-Saharan

Africa:The COMPETE Project

Charles B.L. Jumbe, PhDUniversity of Malawi,Bunda College, P.O. Box 219, Lilongwe MALAWI

Presented at the FANRPAN Partners Meeting on 20 June 2008 at Kempton

Park Conference Centre, South Africa

Outline•Background•The COMPETE Project•Project set-up•Project Outputs to-date•Main policy issues from

findings on policy reviews

•What next beyond the COMPETE Project?

Dependence on fossil fuels and the increasing fuel prices has forced countries to seek alternative fuel sources.If properly designed, biofuels •can substantially help countries to reduce their fuel import bill•stimulate rural development by using biofuels for electricity generation•enhance rural incomes through small-scale feedstock production, processing and marketing (employment generation)

Background

BUT if not properly regulated, it may

• lead to diversion of scarce natural resources (land, water) from food to bioenergy production

• damage livelihood/increase poverty especially among rural people who may not afford high food prices

• encourage large-scale expansion of biofuels that could push subsistence farmers & rural forest dwellers off.

• facilitate forest degradation & loss of biodiversity through the clearing of forests for the growing of energy crops

Background

The objectives of the project are• to establish a platform for

policy dialogue & capacity building

• to identify pathways for the sustainable provision of bioenergy

• to enhance the exchange of knowledge on biofuels development

The Compete Project

WP1 - Current Land Use PatternsWP2 –Improved Land UseWP3 –Sustainability Analysis of

Alternative Land UseWP4 –South-South and North-South

CooperationWP5 –Financing of Alternative Land Use and International TradeWP6 –Policy Development(FARNPAN)WP7 –Dissemination: Concept and

Set-up of a Competence Platform

Project Set-up

• To coordinate policy research• To develop & evaluate policy

initiatives for bioenergy development in Africa

• To develop a roadmap for policy research

• To provide policy recommendations on how to harness the potential of biofuels without damaging rural livelihoods and the ecosystem

The Role of FANRPAN

• Africa has a high comparative advantage in biofuels due to favourable climate, availability of land and biomass, as well as labour for growing energy crops

• Regional economic groupings in Africa such as SADC, COMESA and the AU do not have a coherent regional policy for the biofuels

• The lack of a coherent policy framework on biofuels puts rural communities at risk

Main Findings

• Few resources are allocated for biofuels research & technology development in SSA

• Developed countries such as USA, and Europe provide tax incentives to producers and consumers that makes biofuels in Africa less competitive

• BUT, evidence from Tanzania and Mali shows that bioenergy can be used as a tool for stimulating rural development and restoration of degraded lands

Main Findings

• Food security, particularly in the rural context, is likely to be threatened by unregulated expansion of biofuels

• Range of complementary strategies are required to create opportunities for rural communities to diversify their local livelihood strategies

• Agronomic & socioeconomic research is urgently needed in Africa to develop technical solutions to bio-energy production & stimulate synergies with food production

• Biofuels policies should be properly designed to ensure that they do not compromise food security

Key Messages

As biofuels are expanding rapidly in Africa, FANRPAN should be in the forefront:

•RESEARCH- To support rigorous research & analysis to provide evidence-based responses to biofuel development

– Better understand the direct and indirect impacts of bioenergy development on production systems.

– Assess technical and policy options for both reducing the deleterious impacts and enhancing any benefits of biofuels development

FANRPAN`S Niche

• CAPACITY (POLICY ADVOCACY & DIALOGUE)-To provide guidance to governments on biofuels policy & guidelines that safeguard rural communities and the environment

• VOICE-To sensitize politicians & civil society on the potential benefits as well as dangers of unregulated biofuels expansion

FANRPAN`S Niche

THANK YOU

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