CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT FOR EFFECTIVE DIALOGUE SADC INSIGHTS

EXPRESSED NEEDS AND ACTIONS SADC understanding AEEP &EU partners understand their African counterparts Hold workshops or meeting for experience sharing with EU-AEEP- ACP-Energy Facility requirements and processes Awareness raising and familiarisation with AEEP and the various protocols involved. Knowledge on government and international agreements. Awareness raising on AEEP across the African Stakeholders to enlighten them on the objectives, aims and expected outcomes of AEEP. Political will and enabling environment for EU-Africa Investment. Lobbying politicians and governments Simplified application process for accessing EU financing. Lobby the EU to simplify the application process and hold forums for sharing experience with those that have accessed EU financing.

Putting house in order Enhanced cooperation built through SADC by better information sharing among member states Enabling environment, which simplifies access to finance and technical assistance Creating opportunities for EU-Africa Investment Africa especially SADC must have a common regional position when it comes to development projects.

Faced constraints to access EU funding Too Elaborate application process Insistence on co-financing that may not be always available Project preparation funding required.

SOME RECOMMENDATIONS Special studies will be required on a thorough analysis of the AEEP, what African preparation is required and how African stakeholders can benefit from it. How to prepare proposals for both EDF and EU Energy Facility funding. EU Energy facility and EDF carry facilitation funds for preparation of project proposals e.g. similar to the Project Development Funds under GEF.