Brussels / Hamburg 06.07.09. In order to improve access to sustainable energy in Africa the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) and the World Future Council (WFC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly fight energy poverty, especially in rural areas in Africa. 570 million people, i.e. more than 74 per cent of the population, do not have access to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Electricity plays a major role in providing lighting, communication, information, health services and education. Moreover, lack of electricity constrains the economic development of rural areas.

Together, WFC and ARE are identifying sustainable political, technological and financial solutions for rural electrification in Africa and take concrete action to implement them. “ARE and WFC will establish a multistakeholder dialogue in Africa which brings together policymakers, the private sector and civil society in order to speed up rural electrification”, says Ernesto Macias, President of ARE. WFC founder Jakob von Uexküll adds: “We are going to hold strategy workshops with the African Union in order to strengthen this important institution on their renewable energy policies.” In all their activities, ARE and WFC will stress the importance of decentralized renewable energy production and the importance of incentives for local companies to provide sustainable energy to customers. WFC and ARE emphasize the importance of electricity for productive use and income generation.

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