Africa's Big Switch (ABS)
Africa’s Big Switch is a podcast that aims to identify current and future solutions to complex problems on the African continent. Examples of such problems include: Climate Change, Homelessness, Poverty, Political Instability, Famine, Floods etc.Our first season sheds light and sparks conversation around the future of energy in Africa.Why Energy?Modern society depends on reliable and affordable energy services to function smoothly and to develop equitably. A well-established energy system supports all sectors from medicine and education to agriculture, infrastructure, communications and high-technology. However, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), there are over 770 million people in the world today without access to electricity, 77% of which are in Sub-saharan Africa. The Sustainable Development Goal 7 of the UN Agenda, aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030. Given we are only a few years to 2030, we explore the progress, challenges and opportunities for achieving this goal across
Africa's Big Switch (ABS)
ABS E16: Sustainable Development in Burundi
•
Bolaji Akinola-Alli
•
Episode 16
A conversation with Hubert Waterinckx, a Social Development Specialist at the World Bank Group.
We unravel Hubert's journey – from working as a Tax Lawyer, to being a reservist in the Belgian army, to a visionary in social development, all fueled by his unwavering passion to spread prosperity across Africa!
Since then, Hubert has worked on multiple large-scale infrastructure projects across Africa, from the West to the East of Africa. These projects span the health, education and of course energy sectors.
When not at the World Bank Group, you may find Hubert lecturing at Universite lumière de bujumbura ( ULBU).
The key themes we explore on this episode include:
- Hubert's experience in delivering large-scale hydropower projects in Africa including the Kandadji project in Niger and the Jiji and Mulembwe project in Burundi.
- The value of being 'on the ground' in delivering projects in Africa.
- The Environmental and Social Framework of the world bank, which sets out the mandatory requirements of the Bank in relation to the projects it supports through Investment Project Financing .
- A day in the life of a Social Development Specialist at the World Bank Group.
Enjoy!
