The objective of the “Competence Platform on Energy Crop and Agro forestry systems for Arid and Semi-arid Eco-systems – Africa (COMPETE)” is to stimulate bio-energy implementation in arid and semi-arid regions in Africa.  The specific objective of COMPETE is to identify pathways for the provision of bio-energy, which will (i) Improve the quality of life for the inhabitants eg. poverty alleviation, value added activities, alternative means of income generation and providing options to reduce vulnerability whilst in parallel; (ii) Aid the preservation of the critical functions of arid and semi-arid regions in Africa as intact ecosystems e.g. maintaining biodiversity and providing ecosystem services and; (iii) Enhance the equitable exchange of knowledge between EU and developing countries in this critical area of activity.

COMPETE will establish a platform for policy dialogue and capacity building in the major multi and bi-lateral funding organizations and key stakeholders throughout the bio-energy provision and supply chains. As part of this project, a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary assessment of current land use, energy demand, and technology innovation focused on Africa will be carried out. The improved knowledge of national and regional land use and technology options generated through this project will provide the local and international partners with the basis for a complete assessment of social environmental and economic impacts. Finally, all the outputs of COMPETE will be integrated into a carefully designed dissemination strategy developed through a dedicated work package which will ensure that the outputs are targeted where they will be most useful, e.g. selected decision markers and stakeholders.

The COMPETE project is divided into seven broad thematic groups:

1. current land use pattern and impacts;
2. improved land use – energy crops and agro forestry systems;
3. sustainability analysis of alternative land use;
4. South-South and North-South cooperation;
5. Financing of alternative land use and international trade;
6. Policy development and;
7. Dissemination activities and set up of competence platform

Winrock International India (WII) is leading the Work Package (WP) 4, which focuses on South – South technology and information exchange. The WP4 capitalize on the world – leading RD&D in bio-energy S&T that is occurring in key developing countries (eg. Brazil, Mexico, India, China and Thailand) and facilitate South – South technology and information on exchange. WII will also contribute significantly in work package 7, which is aimed at developing and establishing the competence platform, dissemination and knowledge exchange inside and outside the network and the delivery of practical and useful outputs.

WII has participated in the kick-off meeting held in Munich on March 1-2, 2007.  Currently, WII is working with the WP4 members in documenting the best practices.