The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) is hosting the sixth African Science Academy Development Initiative (ASADI) conference which will focus on improving access to energy this year. The conference will be held in Somerset West, Western Cape from 7 to 10 November 2010.

This ASADI VI conference seeks to find ways of improving access to energy, especially in the sub-Saharan Africa region.  Some of the topics that will be focused on are traditional versus modern forms of energy; who has access to energy; bridging the gap between rural and urban areas in terms of energy access; affordable and sustainable access to energy; and energy as a universal supply for economic development.  These evidence-based solutions will be shared with policy-makers from African governments and the public. A policy-makers’ advisory booklet on improving access to energy will be published.

ASADI was launched in 2004 by the US National Academies and aims to strengthen the capability of African science academies to provide evidence-based advice to African government policy-makers and the public.  Its vision is to develop African science academies to become credible sources for scientific advice. The conferences provide an opportunity for ASADI representatives to share African Academy progress and knowledge gained through policy advisory services to their respective national governments. ASADI also serves to strengthen relations among the African science academies representatives.

Over 150 delegates, consisting of policy-makers, energy experts and African academies representatives are expected to attend.  Delegates from the US National Academies, the UK Royal Society and African academies, Dutch and Canadian Academies of Sciences and members of the Network of African Science Academies will be invited to attend the conference.

Previous conferences were hosted by Kenya (2005), Cameroon (2006), Senegal (2007) and the UK Royal Society (2008). The 2009 conference, which focused on improving maternal, newborn and child health in Africa, was hosted by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.

More information can be obtained from Mutheu Ngila (Mutheu@assaf.org.za; Tel: +27 12 346 6607/22).

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