RAERESA was established by its Constitution pursuant to Articles 106 to 109 of the Treaty establishing COMESA. These provide that the COMESA Member States will undertake to cooperate in the joint development and utilisation of energy resources, creation of more favourable investment climate to encourage public and private investment, encouragement of joint utilisation of training and research facilities, exchange of information on energy systems and investment opportunities, and development of research programmes on renewable energy systems.

In addition, the COMESA Member States are expected to develop a common strategy in the more efficient use of energy and to accede to international agreements that are designed to improve the management of energy resources, develop new renewable energy resources and coordinate the exchange of information on energy resources