The African Energy Commission (AFREC) has conducted energy-statistics training for 18 energy experts from member states.

The aim of the training, funded by the African Union (AU) and European Union (EU) Energy Partnership (AEEP), was to enhance knowledge and quality in energy data collection and processing at national and regional level.

AFREC, in a statement, said that the training will also empower the trainees with coaching and mentoring skills necessary for coaching other national and regional energy statisticians across the continent.

Senior Policy Officer for Energy Information System (EIS) at AFREC, Abdoulaye Oueddo, said the training was in line with the call from member states to ensure that statistics form the basis of all policy formulation, monitoring and evaluation for Africa’s energy sector development.

‘The capacity-building programme supports the National Focal Points (NFPs) in the AU member states to strengthen national information system by coordinating energy data collection and validation at national level’, he said.

‘The training of trainers is AFREC’s capacity-building programme designed to reduce skills gap in energy statistics and data processing.

‘The programme was created as a result of a lack of qualified African experts in energy statistics and the constant reliance from international experts.

Data from the Global Energy Talent Index (GETI) shows that there is shortage of skills within the African energy sector.

Source: African Union

Photo source: African Union