Project Update: Trust Matters Project
We are making great strides with the Trust Matters project, from hosting successful workshops and events to empowering REIPPPP community trusts. As we move forward, we are focused on conveneing more stakeholders, developing new tools, and preparing for our Trust Building Conference in November 2024.
Our work to empower community trusts within the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) is continuing. Our commitment to enhancing the capacity of community trusts remains, ensuring they can effectively serve their communities and navigate the complexities of renewable energy development.
We are excited to share some key updates on the Trust Matters project.
Key Milestones Achieved
Earlier this year, we successfully hosted a side event at the Alternative Mining Indaba 2024. This event focused on community experiences in large-scale wind and solar projects, providing a platform for meaningful discussions between organisations and practitioners active in mining and renewable energy. Participants expressed a strong desire to understand the dynamics of community trusts better, underscoring the importance of this dialogue in the renewable energy sector.
Between April and May, we hosted a series of Trust Connect workshops in Cape Town, Gqeberha, and Kimberley. These workshops were designed to build networks among community trustees and enhance their understanding of the experiences of trusts in REIPPPP and elevate awareness of relevant skills. We were privileged to engage with trustees and stakeholders from REIPPPP trust boards, exploring both challenges and opportunities. The workshops also provided an opportunity to validate our trust maturity framework, a crucial tool for assessing and enhancing trust effectiveness.
The infographic provides harvesting insights from the Community Trusts Connect workshops. This visual journey captures the collective challenges, strategies, and steps forward as discussed by community trustees and other stakeholders in our recent workshops.
Our immediate focus
In the month of September 2024, we plan to bring together trust administrators, economic development managers, legal experts, and financiers to discuss the types and quality of resources and support available for trusts.
This tool will allow community trusts and their ecosystems to assess their capacity over time, providing valuable insights for continuous improvement.
Scheduled for February 202, this two-day in-person conference will be a significant gathering for REIPPPP and other trusts, particularly community trustees. It promises to be a key moment for sharing insights, building relationships, and setting future priorities.
