On 27 February 2023, The African Energy Commission (AFREC) warmly welcomed a delegation from the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) to its headquarters in Algiers. This visit marked an important milestone in the partnership between AFREC and VITO in the establishment of the NDC Support Center, designed to improve the reporting of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in targeted countries.
The activities of the NDC Support Center cover a wide range of initiatives. These include the assessment of energy statistics and NDC reporting, the development of national action plans to improve energy statistics, capacity building in energy statistics and modeling, and support for NDC reporting in partner countries. Activities in Uganda and Malawi have been particularly successful, while progress is being made in Mozambique and Morocco.
The NDC Support Center project plays a critical role in helping African countries meet their NDC commitments under the Paris Agreement. By offering technical assistance, capacity building and knowledge sharing, the initiative supports countries in aligning their actions with global climate goals. The collaboration between VITO and AFREC in this project reflects their shared commitment to sustainable development and climate action in Africa.
Maarten Pelgrims, representing VITO, expressed his thanks to AFREC for the opportunity to visit their headquarters and have productive discussions about the NDC Support Center. The VITO delegation praised AFREC for its dedication and commitment to the project and emphasized the value of a continued partnership.
The visit provided an excellent platform to explore ways to strengthen existing cooperation in energy statistics and modeling, with the goal of promoting sustainable development. Both sides expressed enthusiasm about the prospects and opportunities for the future. The exchange of ideas during the visit further strengthened the partnership and underscored the mutual commitment to advancing sustainable development goals in Africa.
While the NDC Support Center continues its important work, the collaboration between AFREC and VITO serves as a demonstration of the power of partnership in driving positive change. The commitment of both organizations to support African countries in their climate goals ensures a brighter and more sustainable future for the continent.
*The NDC Support Centre was established with the financial support from the Government of Flanders – Departement Omgeving (Belgium) through the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO). The NDC Support Center also benefits from technical support from CO2Logic, a carbon and environmental consultancy company, which is part of the implementing consortium together with AFREC and VITO.