enhancing sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa: new integrated sustainability mechanisms for securing substantial benefits of renewable energy projects
Related symposium to this public defence
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), if viewed appropriately, represents a region vast in resources, both human and natural. However, from many discussions it emerges as a region marred in corruption, diseases, failures and all possible negative attrition.
“Does the region possess the potential to develop and thrive?” – Absolutely!
Is the region developing and thriving? There is no single answer to this question. Predominantly, I cannot and choose not to base the answer of the preceding question on publications of large financial institutions who publish on the development and growth impacts of developing countries and the surrounding regions. It is known for a fact that the “unofficial economy” is the backbone of the Sub-Saharan region. It is estimated to command 72% of all employment within the region. Nevertheless, it is not considered in the calculation of a country’s GDP. It is astonishing to notice that the development of the corresponding countries within the region is based only on the “official economy”, which is utilized to represent the whole country. Whilst in some countries, approximately 70% or more people live on less than a dollar a day. Could this be considered development? Being a development optimist or pessimist is inconsequential in this situation. Being a realist is paramount. The region cannot boast that it is developing when experiencing diminutive power generated, more job losses, higher cost of living, less educative impact and less awareness creation.
OK! Let’s assume that GDP is not utilized to determine the development of a country but infrastructural development and investments. For a fact it is known that major infrastructural developments are occurring across the Sub-Sahara, but how does this benefit the low-socioeconomic groups? Take for example, the implementation of renewable energy (RE) development projects. When these projects are being planned and gaining media attention, Africans tend to get overly excited and lose sight of what these “development projects” really represent. Energy projects, waste management, agricultural and food security projects and even education cease to exist after some years of implementation because when these projects are planned, the excitement clouds the judgment of looking into the future (the concept of sustainability). So, back to the question –
“Is the region of Sub-Saharan Africa developing?” – Personally speaking, both Yes (because I am an African) & No (because I am a realist)!
My personal opinion may not matter that much, but ask the same question to the low and middle class families across the region and approximately 99% of this class will provide you the “No” answer as I have provided. Of course, time and development goes concurrently. However, the region of SSA has come so far to continually remain stagnant in its physical development of the low-socioeconomic groups. Prior to civilization, our ancestors survived, created energy, recycled their waste, transported themselves in the best possible ways and traded unused goods for useful goods. Now, with the birth of modern technology we have ways to efficiently carry out our day to day activities but still lack the drive to develop our region. The ignorance we are so proud of plays a huge role in the shortcomings of living sustainably in a positive way. Africa cannot continue to depend on the west for “free” handouts. A fraction of all supposed funding, if implemented accordingly can change the lives of thousands of people through education of the mind and the creation of awareness to live sustainably. Yet, billions of the “so-called” development investments have been poured into the region and there seem to be no change.
You may consider the above statements, a rant – asking, what it has to do with this thesis? – Everything. It has everything to do with this thesis. The renewable energy sector in SSA is currently growing and numerous projects are being implemented across the region. However, if the true concept of sustainability is not considered prior to the implementation of these projects, they are bound to fail and will definitely fail because the issues of nepotism, corruption and ill-management impairs these projects after a while. The current energy infrastructure is illustrative. In this thesis, as the topic suggests, my goal is to enhance sustainable development and maximize the corresponding benefits with a focus on renewable energy development projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, to successfully carry this out, it is paramount to not just understand the RE sector but to understand the way of life, the concept of sustainability (the African perspective) and also the so-called “African ignorance”. The latter is crucial. As identifying the problems and expressing the situation as is, is the first step to determining an applicable solution.
In this thesis, sustainability characteristics are identified that must be considered by stakeholders, especially government officials to support the implementation of sustainable RE development projects. Based on these characteristics, five aspects to study and develop on were selected: location analysis, sustainable management, protection of infrastructure, societal benefits and framework for implementation (not included in this thesis). This selection is based on the fact that although a vast number of studies on policies have been carried out, very few to none are ever implemented within the region. As such the implementation of projects without clear policies presents a sense of urgency to develop both implementation and management methods and solutions. Such that these so-called development projects will avoid replicating the deteriorating state of the current energy infrastructure found in most SSA countries.
Researching these five aspects supports and contributes to the sustainability of RE development projects in the region of Sub-Saharan Africa. In the location analysis section, we develop a multi-step approach that combines multiple characteristics towards determining the optimal locations
for these projects within the region. We take into account the current state of existing infrastructure (losses in transmission, existing energy plants etc.), geographic and demographic characteristics (population cluster, movement of the habitants, wind density information, transmission length possibilities etc.). In the sustainable management section, we present the empirical reality and failures of RE development projects in SSA and also provide recommendations for the sustainable management of these projects. We utilized a bottom-up approach where we engaged with mainly project beneficiaries to understand the reality surrounding the implementation of these projects. Furthermore, we engaged in a dialogue with the project developers and the financing government as the case presented itself. Combining the findings from all stakeholders, we deduced the main reasons as to why these projects fail and may continue to fail if the right methods towards making these projects sustainable are not considered and implemented. Throughout the study, we utilized the ethnographic approach that allows us to go into analysis of the specific area, identify contextual factors and examine the cultural and institutional dimensions of this topic. During the whole of the study, we present the situation as is. This is the first step to being able to provide the necessary and applicable solution towards the failures.
In the protection of infrastructure section we carry out an analysis to deduce the impact that disturbances such as theft and vandalism may have on RE development projects. Although these aspects are never considered in projects implemented within the region, it is important that project developers and financers practically take this into account. SSA is a tortuous region. Comparing the current energy infrastructure to the future expectations of RE infrastructure realistically does not indicate any improvement. This is because most projects that have been implemented have failed to take any sort of sustainability characteristics into account. However, how long these projects will last is something that is known: it will be short. Realistically!
We must consider the aspect of vandalism and theft in all corresponding projects for them to be sustainable. They should have all appropriate management methods and systems in place for the societal benefits of these projects to be achieved as we have shown in the last section of this thesis. In the societal benefits section, we provide the benefits of these so-called development projects based on the implementation methods utilized and the current state of the projects using the bottom-up approach and presenting the views of the project beneficiaries. In essence, if the aspects and characteristics of sustainability presented in this thesis and modeled around the way of life of the region are not considered prior to the implementation of RE development projects in SSA, these projects, to cut a long story short will not survive and only become waste taking up space in potential land space. This is the inconvenient truth. Solving Africa’s problems does not require the development of sophisticated technology, models or solutions. As such, my aim isn’t to satisfy the urge of the norm but rather to contribute to the “missing” developmental knowledge, while realistically taking into account the way of life and working (Human Touch) of the corresponding countries within the region.
Finally, throughout this study we take into account the problem as is, whilst considering the way of life of the region thus leading to the development of a New Integrated Sustainability Mechanisms for Securing Substantial Benefits of Renewable Energy Projects.
