AMER - ALER: A lasting partnership

More than 4 years have passed, but I remember as if it had happened yesterday, that with the support of ALER, specifically Isabel Cancela de Abreu, we held on March 9th, 2017 the first workshop to discuss the creation of the Mozambican Renewable Energy Association (AMER). This first meeting allowed us to reflect on what AMER should be and what vision and objectives we would like to draw for this association. It became one of the most important meetings we had, because it was the first step towards the definition of AMER's values and pillars.

Since then, AMER and ALER have been working together and have achieved numerous accomplishments over the years. This partnership has indeed been beneficial for both associations and our Members, and we strongly believe that the success of our partnership is due to the following factors:

1. Cultivating a stable and long-lasting relationship

From the very beginning of the partnership between AMER and ALER, we have excelled at transparency, honesty, and a long-term vision. We knew from the beginning that mutually beneficial relationships are not built overnight, and we were fully aware that some time might pass between the various discussions, the first steps and achieving the first results, but that perseverance would be the key to this partnership as we share the same vision and principles.

2. Intelligent market sharing

We could have easily fallen into the trap of fighting for the same networks and members individually and constantly battling for the same market. However, the complementary and long term vision of the boards of the two associations allowed this not to happen, and from the beginning the objectives of each association in the Mozambican market were approached with transparency and professionalism, and that market sharing, in an intelligent way, would undoubtedly be the best option. Today, because of this approach, we can officially announce that AMER Members, ALER Members, and entities that want to become members of both associations can enjoy extremely attractive discounts and benefits.

3. Being flexible and going beyond the obvious

Since we have been partners, we have already completed two unique and highly referenced publications in the market - the national status report and the Briefing, two international conferences with over 900 participants in total in 2017 and 2021, numerous webinars, with the participation of all market players from Government, Private Sector and International Partners, we have also conducted questionnaires, trainings and capacity building programs and organized and answered to public consultations, among many other activities.  Within our partnership we have always had the flexibility to adapt to the needs and capabilities of each Association, based on our objectives and how we could contribute and complement our efforts.  We went far beyond a relationship based only on budgets and contracts, which allowed us to get to know each other better and to show interest in building something much more than a memorandum of understanding could offer, and that is why it is only now that our partnership has been formalized.

And so, it is with great pride and pleasure that I can announce that ALER and AMER have just become members of both associations, and that we have signed a partnership protocol in which we have extended a series of benefits to the members of our associations, increased information sharing, and structured our working relationship.

Later this year, AMER and ALER will create working groups according to the market segments and information in the Briefing: Renewables in Mozambique 2021.

To learn more about the benefits of becoming our Member do not hesitate to contact us at contact@amer.org.mz and geral@aler-renovaveis.com

  
Ricardo Costa Pereira

AMER's President