Mapping of Cluster Processes in the Field of Sustainable Energy in the MENA Region

The creation of clusters - a geographically concentrated and deliberately promoted agglomeration of local and regional value chains – plays an important role for the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the MENA region: Clusters help for example to overcome information and coordination issues or to break resource and capacity bottlenecks of the participating actors by contributing to a continuous exchange between the cluster members.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) promotes local cluster development processes as well as the exchange and the cooperation between clusters within and outside of the MENA region. It aims at making companies, applied research as well as initial and further training more efficient by integrating promotional policies. Thereby it contributes to the strengthening of local value chains and employment effects and at the same time to the improvement of the economic efficiency and security of local energy supply. In addition, the collaboration between clusters can foster additional private sector investments and open new markets for German companies.

Targeting the identification, preparation and establishment of partnerships between economic clusters (or parts of clusters) from Germany with those from MENA partner countries, the GIZ surveyed the backgrounds, interests and needs as well as potential internationalisation strategies of German clusters in 2014. adelphi has been commissioned to prepare a first evaluation of the situation in the region. Starting point were the three partner countries of the GIZ project Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. With the help of a screening paper existing and developing clusters or cluster-like structures and processes were mapped, analysed and evaluated in renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors or neighbouring economic sectors with potential connecting points.

The screening paper forms the basis for more in-depth country and case studies and serves on the one hand as the frame for an overall regional GIZ-financed cluster study „RE/EE in MENA“ and on the other hand as a concept paper for the targeted cluster cooperation GER-MENA.