Wanted: Institutions that are leaders in energy regulation

The African School of Regulation (ASR), launched in January 2022, is calling on academic institutions or international organisations based in Africa to host the school as a pan-African centre of excellence in the field of sustainable energy and climate change.

The ASR focuses on the building of policy, and regulatory and technological capacity, among other issues, in the transition to sustainable energy on the continent – similar to the Florence School of Regulation (FSR) set up within the European University Institute (EUI) in 2004.

Although the initiative was launched early in 2022, the school will be inaugurated only once a host institution has been identified in 2023 and the school has been established in Africa in a process expected to take about 12 months, according to the ASR’s website.

The EUI’s Florence School of Regulation has been mandated to manage the establishment of the centre as a hub of applied research, independent discussion and knowledge exchange, with the purpose of improving the quality of African energy regulation and policy.

In July 2022, Professor Ignacio J Pérez-Arriaga of the Florence School of Regulation was appointed as the interim director of the ASR, but a separate selection process for a director will also take place once a host institution has been selected.

The first phase in establishing the ASR involves choosing a host, the development of training programmes, research and policy dialogue activities and establishing governance structures as well as a financing plan for the next five years.

The second phase will result in the transfer of the management and operations of the ASR to an African hosting institution.

What is expected of a host institution?

In a statement, the ASR said the host institution being sought must commit to host the ASR free of charge or under favourable economic conditions for an indefinite period of time or for a period of time not shorter than 10 years, providing suitable space for the faculty members and the other staff of the ASR.

It said the host must be located in a country which does not impose undue entry restrictions to temporary visitors from other countries participating in the activities of the ASR.

“Preferably, the academic institution(s) or international organisation(s) hosting the ASR would also have a proven track record of research, training and engagement with organisations in the area of energy regulation; have an attractive and well-equipped campus or premises [in which] to run in-person training activities; and ensure independence and freedom of expression of the faculty of the ASR by having secured an agreement with the national government whereby the director and the most senior faculty members of the ASR will be afforded the privileges and immunities provided by the Vienna Convention, respectively to the head and members of diplomatic missions, except in cases in which they are nationals of the country in which the ASR will be located,” it said.

The ASR will be moved physically as soon as possible to ensure it is based “in Africa, run by Africans and for Africa”, according to the statement.