The CSIR and the Cookhouse Wind Farm Community Trust have entered into a collaborative agreement to drive socioeconomic development in the Eastern Cape towns of Adelaide, Bedford, Cookhouse and Somerset East. On 16 May 2025, during a signing ceremony held in Gqeberha, the two parties formalised their partnership through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which outlines plans to introduce a range of collaborative programmes focused on innovative socioeconomic development initiatives for the beneficiary communities. 

This landmark agreement was reached at the Partnership Conference hosted by the Trustees of the Cookhouse Wind Farm Community Trust. Representing the CSIR was Dr Sandile Malinga, Group Executive for CSIR Smart Society, who emphasised the importance of deepening collaboration: “We have been working with Eastern Cape province on various projects and this partnership will further strengthen that, especially in relation to renewable energy projects and innovative socioeconomic development solutions.”

The Trust oversees one of South Africa’s largest wind farms. As such, it leverages the committed economic development spin-offs linked to wind farm development and ensures benefit-sharing and socioeconomic development opportunities for communities in and around the Cookhouse Wind Farm, further contributing to the continued expansion of wind energy in wind resource-rich regions such as the Eastern Cape.

The MoU enables the parties to collaborate on various initiatives, including contributing to education; exposing youth to careers in research, development and innovation; promoting knowledge sharing to improve service delivery across sectors; supporting innovative practices that strengthen partner alignment and investment; promoting scientific research on natural resources to identify economic opportunities; transferring technology and knowledge to enhance the productivity of small, medium and micro enterprises; and introducing innovative practices to strengthen socioeconomic development.  

The Trust is committed to implementing programmes for the sustainability of the community it serves. These include flagship initiatives in education and development, agriculture, land and housing, welfare and humanitarian support, job creation and healthcare.