| Abstract |
United Nations University Geothermal Training Programme (UNU-GTP) in Iceland specializes in capacity building for geothermal exploration and development for professionals from developing countries. This is achieved through training and post-graduate academic studies in Iceland and, more recently, also through short courses, workshops and hands-on training in the developing countries themselves. As Africa is a priority area within the UN system and with the increasing geothermal development in E-Africa, UNU-GTP is putting more emphasis than ever before on capacity building and geothermal research aimed at furthering geothermal development in the region. From its start, the annual 6-month training in Iceland has been at the core of UNU-GTP operations. In recent years, academic studies at MSc and PhD level, and short courses and training on-site in the developing countries have gained importance. Of the 647 UNU Fellows, who have completed the 6-month training between 1979 and 2016, 244, or 38%, have come from 17 African countries. In addition, 30 of 51 UNU-GTP MSc-graduates to date (late 2016) are from 7 African countries, and the first four PhD-Fellowships have gone to Kenyans. Most UNU Fellowships have been financed by the Icelandic Government, while some have been sponsored through local institutions or companies. The UN Millennium Short Course Series for E-Africa, which started in Kenya in 2005 with the week-long “Workshop for Decision Makers on Geothermal Projects and their Management”, has since 2006 continued through annual Short Courses, first aimed only at surface exploration, but gradually extended to about 3½ week events that cover most aspects of surface geothermal exploration, drilling and an introduction to development. In this, UNU-GTP has worked closely with Kenya, through KenGen and GDC. Now more than 550 Africans from 22 countries have benefitted from these training efforts. With the new UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), these series will be reviewed in line with the new SDGs. From 2010, UNU-GTP has also been able to offer customer-designed training and courses in line with the needs of clients from developing countries which have been supported by local or external financial mechanisms. This has become an increasing part of the operations, and several countries of Africa have benefitted from this. An important part has been the ”Geothermal Exploration Project in E-Africa”, aimed at 13 countries and mainly financed through ICEIDA of Iceland and the Nordic Development Fund (NDF). In it, UNU-GTP has had the task of geothermal capacity building and strengthening of institutional build-up with regards to geothermal expertise. Examples of activities include Workshops for Decision-Makers for various countries of E-Africa and a Workshop for Geothermal Development Donors held in Iceland. Furthermore, new course material has been developed, such as in project management, and for preparations of bankable documents for geothermal projects. This has been specially aimed at strengthening the management side of geothermal development, with the courses having been carried out in Ethiopia, Djibouti and partly in Kenya. In the long-term, this should also strengthen sound policy-making in the region. The need for geothermal capacity building in Africa is higher than ever. A natural development to meet this need is the establishment of the Geothermal Center of Excellence in Kenya where UNU-GTP is in a supporting role. With it, lo |