The ASR emerged from a collaborative effort between leading institutions in energy and climate change. Notably, the Florence School of Regulation (FSR) played a crucial role in its incubation, providing invaluable expertise and guidance during the school's formative stages.
Professor Ignacio Pérez-Arriaga, FSR, served as the interim director, laying a solid foundation for the ASR's future endeavours.
In this interview, Dr. Nyang and Prof. Pérez-Arriaga highlight their vision for the ASR.
Dr. Nyang, how do you plan to leverage the existing strengths of the School as you move forward?
"The ASR has made considerable progress in its short span of existence, distinguishing itself as the pre-eminent centre of excellence in training and research in energy regulation and policy in Africa. We owe this to our relationship with the Florence School of Regulation and to the leadership and personality of ASR’s Interim Director, Prof. Ignacio, who brought together partner institutions and professionals to give ASR a continental presence in Africa and raise funds to realize this initiative. We are in the process of relocating from the European University Institure to the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) in Accra, Ghana. We have a well-trained core staff – thanks to the FSR – ready to roll out our activities targeting the African power sector and professionals primarily, but also addressing a global audience. To this end, we have established global partnerships to help us advance our programmes."
What specific goals do you have for school in the coming years? How will you ensure the ASR remains at the forefront of regulatory best practices and addresses the evolving challenges in Africa's energy sector?
"We are transitioning into Phase 2 of the development of the School, having identified ACBF Accra as the African hosting institution. We have prepared a comprehensive Five-Year Action Plan providing a stable portfolio of activities and a basis for collaboration with our implementing partners and further consultations with our funders. Our strategy will, therefore focus on: Training in energy regulation for professionals at all levels, focusing on African issues; Research activities to inform and improve the current energy regulatory practice; Organising events to foster policy dialogue involving key stakeholders in Africa; and Building a knowledge repository of the best regulatory practices that can be adapted to the specific circumstances of the African countries."
Prof. Ignacio, looking back on your time as interim director, what are some of the key milestones achieved by the ASR? What are your hopes, and what will be your role in the school's future?
"The first 'achievement' is that the idea of creating 'the' African School of Regulation with an initial focus on energy was welcomed by everyone; it seemed as if all the key people and organisations we contacted were waiting for someone to make the proposal. The second milestone was the formalisation of an agreement between nine organisations and the start of the activities in September 2022 in Florence. Thirdly, launching a public call to find a hosting institution in Africa and thus becoming an African organisation - with a competent African director chosen after a selection process and an excellent team of young professionals. My hope is that the ASR can flourish and mature quickly to become as helpful as the FSR in Europe and that it will brilliantly overcome the challenges of relevance and financial viability - including diversified donor support.
I am looking forward to this new phase, where my contribution will focus on working with the ASR Director and the School's staff in the design and implementation of the training programme and research activities. I believe that the role of the ASR is to educate the new generations of energy practitioners in the fundamentals of sound regulation while at the same time being at the forefront of regulatory developments, anticipating new challenges, designing solutions and communicating the results to the energy community. A fluid communication between the two sister schools - the FSR and the ASR - will be beneficial to both and will be an example of how to build cooperation between Africa and Europe."
The ASR researcher, Carol Ofafa commented on the latest developments in the School:
"With the appointment of our new director, we embark on a journey fueled by expertise and dedication. As Africa experiences unprecedented growth in its energy sector, the need for effective regulation has never been more crucial.
One of our flagship courses, "Power Sector Regulation in Africa," is a response to this need and stands as a beacon of our dedication to excellence. This course represents a convergence of cutting-edge research, practical insights, and collaboration with industry leaders. As a researcher at the African School of Regulation, I am glad to say that I am not merely an observer; I am part of the catalyst for change. Together, we illuminate the path towards a future where African nations harness the power of energy regulation to fuel prosperity and resilience."