Capacity Building Expert Meeting – 16 January 2012

The Policy Advisory Services and Capacity Building Directorate of IRENA successfully held an expert meeting on 16 January 2012 following IRENA’s Second Assembly Session. The meeting aimed to discuss and identify national capacity building priorities and key interventions in an attempt to reach a common understanding of IRENA’s future work in the area of capacity building.

Participation involved 21 countries from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, and North America. Furthermore, experts from the European Union Commission (EU COM), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and dedicated organisations and associations as the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) as well as industry associations (International Geothermal Association, IGA; the World Wind Energy Association, WWEA; the Sustainable Energy Industry Association for the Pacific, SEIAPI), and the University of the South Pacific also participated.

Background:

Capacity building is a key element in the transition to a renewable energy-based economy. As part of the holistic approach that IRENA follows the Policy Advisory and Capacity Building Directorate (PACB) of IRENA is mandated to offer capacity building services related to renewable energy including training and education to its Member States.

Objective:

The objective of the meeting was to identify the methodologies by which IRENA can provide effective capacity building services that will help accelerate renewable energy deployment in line with national targets and strategies, as well as to identify the relevant stakeholders to liaise with. Recommendations will be integrated into IRENA’s capacity building strategy that will provide a practical framework for IRENA’s capacity building activities in the future. To guide the course of discussion, an initial approach paper detailing the capacity building strategy of IRENA was circulated to all participants beforehand.

Meeting logistics:

• Date: 16 January 2012
• Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
  Park Hyatt, Alyazya 1, Ground Floor.
• Time: 9:00 am – 12:30 pm
• Luncheon: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm

Downloads:

• Meeting Agenda
• IRENA Capacity Building Strategy Approach Paper
• Approach Paper Annex
• Summary of Meeting Outcome

Hugo Lucas, PACB Director, addressing
the attendees.

Gerhard Dedorath, Expert Consultant to
IRENA presenting “Key factors for success of
capacity building services”.

Participants during the expert meeting.

Participants during the expert meeting.