3rd Meeting of the Technical Committee of the ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Skills Certification System

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Published On - May 24, 2023

Webmaster Capacity Building and Certification Program, Executive Director Speeches, Standards and Labeling Program, Sustainable Energy Policies Program

Speech delivered by Jean Francis SEMPORE, Executive Director, ECOWAS Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CEREEE/ECREEE)

  • Madam, Mr. Representative of the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy of Cape Verde,
  • Mr. Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission in Cape Verde,
  • Madam Representative of the ECOWAS national office of Cape Verde,
  • Mr. PCA of CERMI,
  • Ladies and Gentlemen Representatives of public institutions of Cape Verde,
  • Ladies and Gentlemen, ECREEE National Certification Focal Points of ECOWAS member countries,
  • Ladies and Gentlemen, representatives of the Ministries in charge of Energy and National Agencies in charge of sustainable energy of ECOWAS countries,
  • Ladies and Gentlemen Representatives of national agencies in charge of Quality and Standardization,
  • Mr. Director of Education, Culture and Science of the ECOWAS Commission, Dear Professor,
  • Mr. Director of the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Center,
  • Mr. Director of Energy and Mines of the ECOWAS Commission,
  • Madam Representative of the ECOWAS Center for Gender Development,
  • Ladies and Gentlemen Representatives of the Directorates in charge of Energy, the Private Sector and Industry of the ECOWAS Commission,
  • Mr. Representative of the West African Electric Power Exchange System,
  • Ladies and gentlemen, representatives of professional associations and employers’ organizations in the field of sustainable energy,
  • Ladies and gentlemen, representatives of academic and scientific partners,
  • Dear Members of the Skills Certification Unit within ECREEE,
  • Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press,
  • Dear Guests,
  • Dear Colleagues of ECREEE and the ECOWAS Office in Cape Verde,
  • Dear technical and financial partners of the ECOWAS certification system, I want to mention GIZ, ADB, IRENA, the European Union and the World Bank,

It is a great pleasure for ECREEE to organize the third meeting of the Technical Committee of the ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Skills Certification System.

Allow me to welcome you to this important meeting and thank you for your availability which demonstrates your interest in the subject of capacity building in the West African region which is a necessary condition for achieving the sustainable development goals for the benefit of our rural and urban populations.

First of all, I would like to thank the authorities of Cape Verde for the numerous facilities offered to ECREEE, which allows it to work in the best conditions. My thanks are mainly addressed to the Minister in charge of Energy for the constant support to ECREEE.

I also extend my sincere thanks to the technical and financial partners and in particular GIZ for its valuable support in the organization of this meeting.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The development of renewable energies and the promotion of energy efficiency today constitute priorities shared by the ECOWAS Commission and by member countries, as evidenced by the massive investments made as well as the numerous initiatives to facilitate the energy market. sustainable energy to make equipment accessible to the majority of the region’s population.

However, these efforts will remain in vain without consideration of capacity building of skills in the field of sustainable energy because this is the guarantee of quality assurance of sustainable energy equipment and installations. This is essential to ensure the sustainability of the actions undertaken and to consolidate the achievements made over the last ten years.

Ladies and gentlemen,

You therefore understand the importance of skills certification in the field of sustainable energy which is part of the general framework of the ECREEE capacity building sub-program.

Moreover, this is part of the general framework of the ECREEE Strategic Plan 2023-2027 which draws its essence from the 2050 vision of ECOWAS and which is part of the 4×4 objectives of the Management of the ECOWAS Commission.

Ladies and gentlemen,

This meeting is unique, it marks the consolidation of the achievements made since 2015 and it projects towards 2027 with the objective of providing the ECOWAS region with a regional certification body for sustainable energy skills in accordance with regional standards. and international.

This is why I urge all participants to in-depth and concerted reflection with the validation of an ambitious roadmap for the period 2023-2027.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Allow me to end my remarks with my sincere thanks to the officials present and to all those who honored their presence at this opening ceremony.

I would like to send a special mention to all the participants for their significant contribution to the preparation of this meeting and I can count on their commitment for the success of this meeting.

Finally, I invite all participants of this meeting to join the celebration of the 48th anniversary of ECOWAS through a cultural event and a culinary tasting which will take place on Saturday, May 27 at the initiative of the Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission in Cape Verde.

Thank you Thank you
Muito Obrigado