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Aligning Energies for a Green and Prosperous Africa

Africa and Europe are powerful partners that share the goal of realising access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. Aligning Energies for a Green and Prosperous Africa, the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) is holding its Forum on 20 October 2021 to discuss shared priorities in achieving that goal. To make SDG7 a reality requires concerted efforts across the broadest possible range of stakeholders. It will rely on innovations and insights from business, civil society and research. And it will need the engagement of thought leaders and practitioners across all sectors and society groups. Learning about and aligning these perspectives is the first step in engendering joint action.  

 The AEEP Forum will enable participants to engage on key questions on the future of energy in Africa and will bring in the varied voices needed for translating this into action. The half-day event will offer participants the opportunity to identify what still needs to be done in the decade ahead, and how that transition to universal energy access can help to decarbonise economies and support sustainable economic and societal development.  

 The outcomes of the AEEP Forum will feed into a broader process of engagement on energy in Africa convened by REN21, and will inform the work to prepare the 6th AU-EU Summit. As such, the AEEP Forum will help to shape the future focus of Africa and Europe’s partnership and joint action on energy and climate.  

 The two continents’ collaboration on energy has shaped and supported a number of the achievements to-date, and continues to provide a strategic platform for long-term dialogue on the shared issues of the future. As the UN holds its first High-Level Dialogue on energy in 40 years, the EU places an ambitious climate agenda at the heart of the European Green Deal, and the new AU Commission steps up its work to achieve Agenda 2063 and a green recovery, the AEEP offers a unique forum to convene all those who can help make the ambitions and SDG7 a reality.  

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AGENDA

Time CETMinAgenda
09:30
30 min

Pre-Event Browsing/ Networking

10:00
10 min

Welcome and Opening

  • H.E. Birgitte Markussen, Ambassador, Head of the EU Delegation to the African Union
  • H.E. Dr Amani Abou-Zeid, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, African Union Commission
10:10
20 min

Keynote Speech

  • Kandeh Yumkella, Co-Chair of the Africa Europe Foundation Strategy Group on Energy and former CEO of Sustainable Energy for All
10:30
50 min

What Does Renewable Energy Mean for Africa? – Reflecting on Progress and Identifying Pathways for Action
Interactive Panel Discussion

Institutions and initiatives respond to the new angles raised and elaborate their contributions to the African energy transition:

  • Atef Marzouk, Acting Director Infrastructure and Energy, AUC
  • Daniel Schroth, Acting Director for the Department of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, AfDB
  • Dr. Towela Nyirenda-Jere, Head of Economic Integration, AUDA-NEPAD
  • Jean-Paul Adam, Director Technology, Climate Change & Natural Resource Management Division, UNECA

Moderator: Christine Mhundwa, Journalist

    11:20
    15 min

    Amplifying New Voices: Dialogue for Progress on Energy in Africa
    Moderated Q&A

    Overview of the RENdez-Vous Africa series, hosted by REN21. The dialogue series aims to amplify renewable energy voices on the continent and build bridges to non-energy sectors.

    •  Rana Adib, Executive Director, REN21
    • Johan van den Berg, Head of Secretariat, Africa-EU Energy Partnership

    Moderator: Christine Mhundwa, Journalist

    11:35
    15 min

    Break

    11:50
    5 min

    Welcome Back

    11:55
    60 min

    Aligning Energies for a Green and Prosperous Africa
    Moderated Roundtables

     Two multi-stakeholder roundtables (one in English, one in French) will convene representatives from policy makers, civil society, youth, women, industry, finance and academia to candidly discuss their perspectives on the African energy transition.

    • What does renewable energy mean for Africa?

    English-language Roundtable:

    • Sheila Oparaocha, International Coordinator and Program Manager, ENERGIA
    • Dr Youba Sokona, Senior Advisor for Sustainable Development, South Centre
    • Louise Paulsen, Managing Director, Vestas South Africa
    • Rashid Ali Abdallah, Executive Director, AFREC
    • Wikus Kruger, Research Fellow, Power Futures Lab, University of Cape Town

    French-language Roundtable:

    • Nopenyo Dabla, Programme Officer in charge of Sub-Saharan Africa, IRENA
    • Dr. Salimata Berte , Associate Post-Doctoral Researcher at Researcher, Swiss Centre for Scientific Research in Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan
    • Ali Zerouali, Director of Cooperation & International Development, MASEN
    • Hary ANDRIANTAVY, Executive Secretary, Club ER
    • Ibrahim TRAORÉ, Head of Climate Finance Division, BOAD
    12:55
    15 min

    Key Priorities for Action

    Summary of the Roundtable Highlights

    • Moderator Christine Mhundwa and representative from each roundtable  
    13:10
    15 min

    Next Steps for Energy in Africa

     In a joint conversation, the African Union Commission and European Commission  outline how the outcomes will be taken onboard and look ahead to the next AU-EU Summit in 2022.

    • Atef Marzouk, Acting Director Infrastructure and Energy, AUC
    • Thomas Huyghebaert, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to AU
    13:25

    Close

    13:30 – Open end

    Post-Event Browsing/Networking

    FEATURED SPEAKERS

    • H. E. Amani Abou-Zeid

      Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, African Union Commission

    • Thomas Huyghebaert

      Head of Cooperation at EU Delegation to AU

    • Atef Marzouk

      Acting Director Infrastructure and Energy, African Union Commission

    • Rana Adib

      Executive Director, REN21

    • Rashid Ali Abdallah

      Executive Director, the African Energy Commission

    • Daniel-Alexander Schroth

      Acting Director for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, African Development Bank

    • Ali Zerouali

      Director Of Cooperation & International Development, Masen

    • Wikus Kruger

      Research Fellow, Power Futures Lab, University of Cape Town

    • Johan van den Berg

      Head of Secretariat, Africa-EU Energy Partnership

    • Christine Mhundwa

      Journalist

    • Kudakwashe (Kuda) Ndhlukula

      Executive Director, SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE)

    • Vanessa Vovor

      Project Advisor, Covenant of Mayors Sub-Saharan Africa

    • Towela Nyirenda-Jere

      Principal Programme Officer, AUDA-NEPAD

    • Sheila Oparaocha

      International Coordinator and Program Manager, ENERGIA

    • Dr. Salimata Berte

      Associate Post-Doctoral Researcher at Researcher, Swiss Centre for Scientific Research in Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan

    • Hon. Kandeh Yumkella

      Co-Chair of the Africa Europe Foundation Strategy Group on Energy, former CEO of Sustainable Energy for All

    • Dr Youba Sokona

      Senior Advisor for Sustainable Development, South Centre

      We are excited to have a broad array of informed and inspirational speakers in the event. Be sure to revisit this page as we constantly update the line-up.

      REGISTRATION

      The AEEP Forum enables participants to engage on key questions on the future of energy in Africa and will bring in the varied voices needed for translating this into action. Register today to join the half-day event!

      REGISTER

      MEDIA

      Journalists and media representatives are welcome to attend and cover the AEEP Forum on 20 October 2021.

      Find more information and news stories here. If you would like to receive news and updates by e-mail, please sign-up to our newsletter or send an inquiry to maximilian.heil@aeep-secretariat.org.

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