Times Of Swaziland: AFDB PPP’S TRAINING TO BOLSTER ESWATINI ENERGY SECTOR AFDB PPP’S TRAINING TO BOLSTER ESWATINI ENERGY SECTOR ================================================================================ BY KWANELE DHLADHLA on 12/10/2018 06:30:00 MBABANE – Production of sufficient energy to meet the increasing demand cannot be achieved without active involvement of the private sector. The African Development Institute of the African Development Bank and the Southern Africa Regional Development and Business Delivery Office has taken upon itself to empower the private sector through convening a workshop on ‘Enhancing Institutional Capacity to Implement Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the Energy Sector’. The workshop is being convened in collaboration with the African Legal Support Facility, a public international institution hosted by the bank. Aimed at closing the skills gap between practitioners and policy-makers in Eswatini and across the region, the week-long training focuses on building the capacities of energy industry players on structuring PPP’S. Setsabile Dlamini from the Ministry of Finance explained that the workshop sought to disseminate knowledge and skills to develop and implement PPPs, to improve the kingdom’s legal and regulatory frameworks, which also entails networking and sharing experiences, tools and best practices. “This aligns well with the recent support to negotiate and structure power purchase agreements,” Dlamini explained. She mentioned that the objective of the workshop was to enhance legal and financial capacity of key stakeholders in Eswatini, to initiate, implement and maintain PPP’s. “This is expected to contribute to bolstering PPP policy formulation and improved access to energy. Energy PPPs are key in unlocking our economic potential, as we currently import 80 per cent of our electricity from South Africa, This training provides participants with knowledge and skills to improve infrastructure service delivery,” added Dlamini. The African Development Institute is the leading capacity development provider in Africa. The institute innovatively engages in capacity building, training and knowledge dissemination in Africa, the institute has trained over 2 000 PPP practitioners and policy makers in various African countries. This has provided participants with knowledge and skills to improve infrastructure service delivery Devdiscourse reported that PPPs have gained growing prominence as innovative financing mechanisms and alternative approach for public investment projects to foster development in emerging economies. They explained that the workshop would hone the legal and financial capabilities of over 33 participants from the public and private sectors. It was stated that it would also help them develop a comprehensive understanding of the role of PPPs in delivering infrastructure services to meet demand. The workshop was in response to a request from Swaziland’s Ministry of Finance for capacity enhancement in PPP policy and operational development for its personnel, sister ministries and energy industry practitioners. Providing participants with insight on current practices and perspectives on PPPs across Africa, the workshop also addresses the need to adequately leverage private sector innovation and skills, and global best practice. Discussions from the plenary sessions were expected to enable Eswatini to strengthen the regulatory framework, incentivise and increase private sector participation in her energy sector. This is anticipated to contribute to increased space for PPPs and improved access to energy and infrastructure services.