AEEP Forum – 4^th edition – 6 March, Cape Town, South Africa 

Africa-Europe energy relations are more important than ever, not only to boost economic development in Africa, but also to ensure energy security and jointly fight climate change. To take stock of the successful bicontinental collaboration to date and further align on shared priorities and a vision for achieving SDG7 – access to modern, sustainable and reliable energy for all, the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) is hosting the fourth annual AEEP Forum under the theme:

The AEEP Forum will take place on the sidelines of the Africa Energy Indaba on 6 March, in Cape Town, South Africa. To register visit the registration platform: AEEP Forum – Africa Energy Indaba. You can sign up for in-person or virtual participation.

South Africa serves as a perfect location to discuss joint accelerated approaches for financing SDG7 considering the countries G20 presidency in 2025. Under the theme ‘Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability’ South Africa aims to address the multiple crisis we are facing, including climate change, underdevelopment, inequality, poverty, hunger and unemployment by building partnerships across all sectors of society. During its presidency South Africa aims to mobilise finance for just energy transitions through strengthening multilateral development banks, enhancing and streamlining support for country platforms such as the Just Energy Transition Partnership and more effectively leveraging private capital. Jointly with the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa launched the global campaign ‘Scaling up Renewables in Africa’ to mobilise investments into the sector.

Such joint efforts are critical to reach SDG7 in Africa. A recent report by the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP), which assesses ‘European Financial Flows on SDG7 to Africa’, however, concludes that the pace of progress remains too slow to meet SDG7 in Africa, especially considering the 2030 target. This is despite consistent efforts by the European Union (EU) and its Member States, other public donors, and African governments, which have resulted in the additional vital energy infrastructure. Especially clean cooking and energy efficiency are the two SDG7-areas that have been dramatically underfunded with very low levels of public commitments.

To discuss effective ways forward, the AEEP is convening stakeholders from the public and private sector, as well as civil society, to discuss the financing needs for achieving SDG7 and how to scale up renewable energy through the bicontinental action in a true partnership of equals with mutual benefits.