Inclusion and Empowering
EMERGE's engagement model is built on continuous, hands-on collaboration with local stakeholders, ensuring that communities and institutions are not just consulted but actively involved in shaping the tools developed under the project.
Co-Design Workshops
Co-design workshops bring EMERGE tools directly to local stakeholders, gathering structured feedback to refine and optimise the toolbox while building stronger ownership among local partners.
The first co-design workshop took place in Oujda, Morocco, on 27 November 2024, presenting the CEPIA, Hosting Capacity, and GREENADVISE tools to academia, government bodies, and research institutes. A second co-design workshop was held in Praia, Cabo Verde, on 17 October 2025, presenting the full EMERGE Toolbox to the same stakeholder categories.
These sessions were designed to reach consortium members directly involved in the project, expert stakeholders with technical and policy expertise in the energy sector, and other local actors such as representatives from institutions and utilities. This mix of participants allowed the project to collect both highly technical feedback and practical insights on usability and local applicability.
Structured Feedback Tools
Two main instruments were used to collect stakeholder input during the workshops:
- ODK Forms: A criteria-based evaluation framework, drawing on standards such as ISO/IEC 9126, was used to assess software quality across 18 criteria including usability, documentation, portability, governance, and interoperability. Participants rated each criterion on a 5-level scale, with open-ended questions used to gather qualitative suggestions for future development.
- Mentimeter: An interactive, real-time feedback tool used to gather both quantitative and qualitative input from participants. Feedback was collected across all five EMERGE tools: CEPIA, GREENADVISE, Hosting Capacity, Optimal Storage Placement, and PowSyBl-METRIX.
Key Findings
Stakeholders consistently viewed the EMERGE tools as relevant and applicable to energy transition planning, recognising their potential to support evidence-based decision-making across African contexts.
Two recurring challenges emerged:
- Data readiness: Collecting and preparing the input data needed to use the tools effectively remains a significant barrier, particularly where local datasets are fragmented or incomplete.
- Local adaptability: Tools must remain flexible enough to reflect national policies and institutional realities, or risk being seen as too generic for practical use.
Lessons Learned
Early and continuous engagement with local stakeholders builds ownership, encourages data sharing, and fosters mutual trust.
Iterative feedback loops, supported by tools like ODK and Mentimeter, enable structured usability assessments and real-time insight collection.
Hands-on training and AU-EU exchange activities allow participants to test tools using their own datasets, strengthening technical capacity and institutional uptake.
Context-specific challenges, including language barriers and data quality limitations, highlight the need for tailored support and adaptive design.
Continuous monitoring of participation, satisfaction, and usability metrics provides ongoing evidence for refining both the tools and the engagement process.
Looking Ahead
Sustain and expand the Data Repository, working with local partners to keep data reliable, standardised, and accessible.
Continue co-creation and validation activities through workshops, training, and cross-regional exchanges between African institutions and European partners.
Systematically document pilot results, capturing both usability metrics and qualitative insights on policy relevance.
Enhance usability and user support through simplified interfaces, clearer documentation, and accessible training materials.
These efforts reflect EMERGE's commitment to an open, iterative, and user-centred approach, ensuring that the Toolbox remains relevant, accessible, and genuinely co-owned by the communities it is designed to serve.