SEA provides capacity building support to governments, civil society and communities, to strengthen their sustainable energy work.

SEA holds various training events on sustainable energy, sustainable development and sustainable design. These events include the identification of needs, programme and learning process development as well as material development. We also facilitate and deliver courses ranging from 2 – 6 days as well as provide inputs to seminars, conferences and training programmes of other organisation. We aim to incorporate training, awareness and skills transfer into our projects that focus on implementation and policy development through our capacity building approach. Our primary capacity building programme is SEED (Sustainable Energy, Environment and Development).

Sustainable Energy, Environment and Development Programme (SEED)

The Sustainable Energy for Environment and Development (SEED) Programme promotes the integration of sustainable energy approaches and practices into urban development in South Africa. The Programme develops partnerships with national and local government and with NGOs. It builds capacity in these organisations, in part by cooperatively placing and supporting SEED Advisors in the partner organisations. SEED provides training and supports information campaigns, demonstrations and implementation. At a national and international level SEED supports exchange of experience, networking and policy development.

The SEED Programme celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2008 and is about to enter its fourth phase.  Very broadly, Phase 1 introduced sustainable concepts into cities through the focus area of housing, Phase 2 then pioneered city wide energy strategy development and Phase 3 concentrated  on overcoming barriers in implementation at a city wide scale of sustainable energy interventions.  The upcoming Phase 4 is set to explore introducing broad eco systems approaches to city planning, a key component of which is the energy interventions.

 Current SEED partner cities include:  Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality; City of Joburg; City of Cape Town; City of Tshwane; Tlokwe (Potch) and Sol Plaatjie Municipality.  Informal supportive relationships  extend to Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Metro, Sedibeng, Mangaung, Buffalo City and eThekwini.

SEED continues to run capacity buildig/training sessions, ranging from specific city requested support sessions, to workshop style sessions targeting our city networks and a university level week long city energy course.  Network metings remain a core activity.  Here our seven or so partner cities meet to share information and experience, reflect on their strategy, discuss obstacles and solutions, examine new policies and their application.  This forum provides a platform to liaise with relevant national government departments and other stakeholders.  We also produce supporting materials, such as implementation guides and send out e-SEED newsletters informing city energy stakeholders on what is happening in the partner cities and context in which we operate.

The highlights of the programme over the past while include: City of Cape Town's establishment of a Section 80 council committee to drive energy work within the city, SPM Energy and Climate Strategy developments, implementation mechanisms workshops (NMBMM energy programme, SWHs, FBAE), input into DPLG policy development on the role of local government in sustainable development and the SACN Renewable Energy for Cities Summit.

Materials Development

SEA (Sarah Ward) published  The Energy Book for Urban Development  in 2002 and has recently published an updated version of the semial work in the form of the New Energy Book.  The book is a practical handbook for professionals, development workers, community organisers, energy activists and all people striving for sustainable urban development.  In 2003 Sustainable Energy Africa published Energising SA Cities and Towns as part of its City Energy Strategies Programme and as a support material for a major conference which SEA co hosted.  In 2007 SEA developed in partnership with 15 cities and towns, and key government departments and related stakeholders, a State of Energy in South African Cities, 2006. We have also developed posters, pamphlets and CDs and course pack relevant to our courses .

City Energy Strategies Conference

SEA proposed and raised the funds for the City Energy Strategies Conference which took place from 19 to 21 November 2003 at the Cape Town Convention Centre. It was mainly funded by Danida and was co-hosted by SEA, South African Cities Network and CCT, in association with ICLEI and SALGA. The conference was endorsed by United Nations Environment Programme. The conference was extremely successful with 48 SA local authorities attending. For more information go to the conference website.

Sustainable Energy Planning for Cities Course

Sustainable Energy Africa (SEA) in collaboration with The Sustainability Institute (University of Stellenbosch) designed and hosted a successful, dynamic and intensive 6-day accredited course on ‘Sustainable Energy Planning for Cities’ spanning the 14th to 19th March 2005. The course attracted a broad range of national and international participants, involved in work embracing energy, planning, environmental issues and sustainable development.

The essence of the course was to highlight the need to incorporate energy in a co-ordinated and strategic manner into integrated sustainable city development planning, taking into consideration the critical role of energy in economic development, social and human development and environment sustainability.