The EC funded project is part of present international efforts that join forces with local partners to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Although access to energy is not a specific MDG it is widely recognised as playing a central role in achieving MDG 1 (eradicating extreme poverty) and MDG 7 (ensure environmental sustainability), as well as being a central issue in the Johannesburg Partnership for Sustainable Development. Based on the experience of previous projects in the region, this activity is focused not only on field and research activities (including development of a series of formal round table sessions and workshops with local players), but also to enhance the capacity of an existing local reference centre, Aghrymet, and extend its activities in the field of energy policies and poverty alleviation.

The project team intends to reinforce the co-operation between international communities and local stakeholders, and also to build the foundations for a long lasting sustainable impact, enhancing the expertise of an already notable reference centre in the Sahel and facilitating the exchange of policy and scientific information on the links between energy and poverty in the region.

Countries
The Countries involved are the nine members of CILSS (Cape Verde, Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Chad).

[CILSS: Comitù Permanent Inter Etats de Lutte Contre La Secheressù Au Sahel (Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control).]

Project Schedule
The project is scheduled to be developed until mid-2007, with the realization of two main Workshops, from where the project team already ask for interested parties to mark in your agenda.

Preliminary Main Time Table for the Local Workshops:

Besides these two Workshops the project is also committed to involving institutions to build a permanent network between the professionals.