Rome, Thursday 16 October 2008 – The eight member countries of the Economic and Monetary Union of West Africa (UEMOA) – Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo – have the natural resources, the land availability and the demand to develop bioenergy successfully, a new report has found. Furthermore, the study states, these countries have the political will and commitment at the national and regional levels to guide a paradigm shift to make the transition to local food and fuel production with attention to economic, social, and environmental benefits.The conclusions of the report, entitled “Sustainable Bioenergy Development in UEMOA Member-Countries”, were presented at an event organised on the occasion of World Food Day today by the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP), in co-operation with the United Nations Foundation and the Italian Ministry for the Environment Land and Sea. The event was held at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in Rome, and opened by FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf. The United Nations Foundation (UNF) joined with the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the Energy and Security Group (ESG) in undertaking this regional analysis in partnership with the UEMOA Commission, the Rural Hub of Western and Central Africa, and the Italian Ministry of the Environment Land and Sea.
To read full report click here
To read press release of the event click here