The countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are endowed with extraordinary renewable energy potential. Nevertheless, fossil fuels are the predominant source of energy with significant levels of inefficiency and losses. To transform energy systems sustainably, socio-economic benefits for local value chains and employment need to be optimised. However, developing appropriate political and market framework conditions often meets with substantial challenges such as capacities for planning and implementation or stakeholder resistance.
This was the starting point for the project “Sustainable Energy for Jobs (SE4JOBS)”, carried out jointly by adelphi and the Environmental Policy Research Centre at the Freie Universität Berlin and commissioned by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). This project was part of the larger GIZ regional project RE-ACTIVATE (Promoting Development and Employment through Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RE/EE) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)). SE4JOBS aims to support political processes by creating a knowledge platform that reflects on good practice examples and derives concrete opportunities for action in MENA countries. Focus countries are, in a first phase, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.
The first step entailed an analysis of good practice examples in countries such as Brazil, China, India, Turkey, Mexico, and South Africa. In these countries, renewable energy and energy efficiency policies have not only led to effective implementation, but also had significant positive effects on employment. Analysed sectors include wind, solar, biofuels, and hydro power for renewables as well as energy efficiency in buildings, industry and transport. To ensure the relevance of these good practices for the MENA countries, framework conditions in MENA countries and potential entry points were then analysed and a tool box for knowledge management is developed in close coordination and through regular consultations with relevant stakeholders in the region. These entail the government, the private sector, civil society and research organisations as well as development cooperation. These consultations also form the basis for outlining relevant capacity development measures and for conceptualising pilot projects.
