11-12 November 2009 - Johannesburg, South Africa

 

Building on the outcomes of previous NEPAD-OECD meetings, the 2009 meetings were held in two parts: High-level ministerial meeting on mobilising financial resources in Africa against the crisis Expert roundtable on boosting private investment in African energy infrastructure These meetings were co-organised by NEPAD, the OECD and the South African Departments of Trade and Industry and Science and Technology.

Documentation

• Summary report from the ministerial meeting 

• Co-Chairs’ Conclusions from the Ministerial Meeting

• Beyond the crisis: mobilising resources in Africa (News release 12 November 2009)

• Africa needs to tackle energy challenge, says NEPAD Chief, (News release, 11 November 2009, South African Department of Trade and Industry)

• Mobilising financial resources - Boosting energy investment and carbon finance in Africa  (News release 4 November 2009)

• Article on African investment, OECD Observer, November 2009

• Draft Agenda

Background papers

• Taxation for Investment and Development: An overview of policy challenges in Africa
• Private Participation in Energy Infrastructure in Africa
• Deepening African Financial Markets for Growth and Investment
• Boosting Africa’s Energy Sector through Carbon Finance

Selected Power Points : Day 1

• Technology, Trade and Africa’s Competitiveness
• Government’s role in science, technology and innovation investments
• The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA):Mobilising resources for R&D led growth and development
• Funding innovative developments in South Africa & the Impact of SPII
• Africa's intra-regional, inter-regional and inter-continental electricity trade-techno-politico-economic aspects and future prospects
• Increasing Private Investment in African Energy Infrastructure
• Resource Mobilization Strategy for Energy in the African Continent
• Using ODA for facilitating private investment in African energy sector
  IDC’s role in boosting private investment in Energy Infrastructure
  

Selected Power Points : Day 2

• Innovative and workable carbon Financing; Expectations from COP15, Copenhagen
• Carbon Financing in Africa, Practical examples
• Japan's climate change policy towards Africa 
• Climate Change –Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability in South Africa (and response)

 

Focus issues and objectives

The meetings aimed to stimulate discussion on investment policies, showcase successful projects, and share country-specific experiences. Discussions centred on best practices and policy instruments to help NEPAD countries implement investment reforms and increase private investment. Innovative policy papers and country-specific experiences were presented as a springboard for comprehensive dialogue involving high-level political actors, the private sector, development partners and technical experts. All sessions were result-oriented, aiming to catalyse concrete actions at country, regional and international levels. Discussions and inputs from participants at the meetings will be reflected in a final report including policy recommendations and proposals for action.

DAY 1 - 11 November 2009

The High-level Ministerial Meeting on Mobilising financial resources in Africa against the crisis brought together ministerial and top-level African actors to address ways of catalysing resources for strengthening supply-side and trade capacities. It considered policy measures likely to improve innovation for diversifying African countries’ export baskets. Using African and OECD instruments and processes such as the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the Policy Framework for Investment (PFI) , participants highlighted policy options that will help Africa overcome the crisis and reap the long-term benefits of structural reforms.

DAY 2 - 12 November 2009

The Expert Roundtable on Boosting private Investment in African energy infrastructure, aimed to draw on country experiences and best practices to identify and address the factors holding back investment in African countries’ energy sectors. It provided an overview of current public and private investment in Africa’s energy sector, assessed the main obstacles to increasing private investment in this sector and explore ways of tackling them. The Roundtable also considered how Africa could take better advantage of carbon financing mechanisms, such as the Clean Development Mechanism  (CDM) under the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), while exploiting its vast investment potential in sustainable energy. Key messages will be sent to the UNFCCC COP15 to be held in Copenhagen in December 2009. The Roundtable also drew on the guidance offered by the OECD Principles for Private Sector Participation in Infrastructure.

SIDE EVENTS - 12 November 2009

Unlocking Investment Potential in Southern Africa: This event launched a project which aims to improve Southern Africa’s investment climate through an integrated programme of Investment Policy Reviews (IPRs), peer learning, and experience sharing at regional level based on these reviews. The project will be conducted over 3 years within the institutional framework of the NEPAD-OECD Africa Investment Initiative.

Launch of the Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostic (AICD) Study: High-level speakers from the African Union (AU), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the World Bank presented the most comprehensive and up-to-date stock-taking exercise on African infrastructure.

Any questions about these events should be addressed to Ms. Nana Shodu, Logistics Co-ordinator at nana.shodu@oecd.org

NEPAD-OECD Africa Investment Initiative