Powering Africa's health sector on the agenda at Imperial event

Experts from academia, industry and government discussed the issues around providing sustainable power in Africa's emerging economies.

Last week Energy Futures Lab and the Africa Alternative Energy Initiative (AAEI) hosted the event Powering Africa’s Health Sector: Innovation, Access, and Investment. The half-day forum focussed on the challenges surrounding energy access and constant supply for health care facilities in developing regions, particularly African nations.

The two organisations were able to bring together a wide range of stakeholders interested in the problems of clean, reliable and sustainable power in African nations. Ensuring universal access to modern energy services in health facilities in developing countries is an essential requirement for improving health and well-being. However, evidence about energy access and constant supply in health care facilities in developing regions is lacking.

The partnership between AAEI and Energy Futures Lab aims to help bridge this gap and this event was the first of many collaborations for the two. The evening featured two panels that tackled two different sides of the issue.

After a short talk from Naeema Ahmed, Founder and Executive Director of AAEI, introducing AAEI and giving a background to the evening the first panel looked at the alternative energy policies that could increase investment and innovation. Chaired by Dr Robert Gross, Energy Futures Lab’s Director of Policy, the panel included Dr Judith Cherni of Imperial College London, Ms Elizabeth Nyeko of Imperial College Business School, Dr Sarah Wykes of CAFOD and Dr Ryan Hogarth of Oxford Policy Management. “The panel went really well, it was great to have a wide range of experts presenting from across different areas,” says Dr Rob Gross, “The follow up questions from the audeinec also teased out more of the complexity around the issue and I think gave us some really food for thought, which will be useful going forward.”

The second panel looked at specific examples with representatives from African nations that can benefit from improved access to sustainable power. Chaired by Debbie Ariyo OBE, Founder and Chief Executive of AFRUCA, it included Dr S Mohammed Sheriff the ambassador to the United Kingdom for the Republic of Liberia and Mr Kofi Addo of the Ghana High Commission. “We were delighted to have secured Debbie as the chair for the session and she proved why she is so well respected as she handled the task with aplomb,” says Naeema Ahmed, “The distinguished panel also gave us real insight into the motivations in the political arena that we are hoping to work with.”

The event was followed by networking over drinks and nibbles to encourage continuing the discussion of the ideas raised by the panels.

Energy Futures Lab and AAEI are currently working on further events around the energy issues faced by Africa. If you are interested in learning more and being kept up to date sign up for Energy Futures Lab’s mailing list.