The objective of the Competence Platform on Energy Crop and Agroforestry Systems - Africa (COMPETE) is to stimulate bioenergy implementation in Africa. COMPETE will establish a platform for policy dialogue and capacity building in the major multi- and bi-lateral funding organisations and key stakeholders throughout the bioenergy provision and supply chains.

As global fossil energy resources become constrained, bioenergy is emerging as a major potential resource to supply the energy services currently provided by these fossil fuels. Africa and Latin America have, in theory, very large areas of land resources available for bioenergy production. However, the production of biomass for energy on the scales necessary to supply significant shares of national and global energy provision, will result in very substantial impacts (positive and negative) on the ecosystems and cultures of these target regions. The protection of biodiversity, rural livelihoods and management of scarce water resources are critical considerations in any analysis of the potential for sustainable bioenergy provision.

Therefore, a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary, assessment of current land use, energy demand and technology innovation focused on Africa, will be carried out to identify pathways for the sustainable provision of bioenergy, which will:

improve the quality of life and create alternative means of income for the rural population in Africa

aid the preservation of the critical functions of arid and semi-arid regions in Africa as intact ecosystems

enhance the equitable exchange of knowledge between EU and developing countries

UN System:
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (Italy)

Other intergovernmental organizations:
African Development Bank Group (Tunisia)

Other:
WIP Renewable Energies (Germany)
Austrian Biofuels Institute (Austria)
Höhere Bundeslehr- und Forschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft, Landtechnik und Lebensmitteltechnologie Francisco Josephinum (Austria)
European Biomass Industry Association (Belgium)
University of Botswana (Botswana)
Centro Nacional de Referencia em Biomassa (Brazil)
Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Brazil)
UEMOA - Biomass Energy Regional Program (PRBE) (Burkina Faso)
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (China)
Chinese Association of Rural Energy Industry (China)
Foederation Evangelischer Kirchen in Mitteldeutschland (Germany)
Institute for Sustainable Solutions and Innovation (Germany)
Indian Institute of Science (India)
The Energy and Resources Institute (India)
Winrock International India (India)
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Italy)
ETA - Energia, Trasporti, Agricoltura s.r.l. (Italy)
Interuniversity Research Centre for Sustainable Development - University of Rome "La Sapienza" (Italy)
MOI University (Kenya)
Mali-Folkecenter (Mali)
Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (Mexico)
Utrecht University (Netherlands)
Universitetet i Oslo (Norway)
Environnement et Développement du Tiers-Monde (Senegal)
AGAMA Energy (Pty) Ltd (South Africa)
Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network of Southern Africa (South Africa)
University of Cape Town - Energy Research Centre (South Africa)
University of Fort Hare (South Africa)
University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)
Stockholm Environment Institute (Sweden)
Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment (Thailand)
Eco Ltd. (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
Energy for Sustainable Development Ltd. (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
Imperial Centre for Energy Policy and Technology (ICEPT) (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
Practical Action (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
TWIN (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
University of Bristol (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
FELISA Company Limited (United Republic of Tanzania)
Tanzania Traditional Energy Development and Environment Organisation (United Republic of Tanzania)
Conservation International Foundation (United States of America)
E+Co, Inc. (United States of America)
Center for Energy, Environment and Engineering Zambia (Zambia)