African-European Joint Action for Financing Energy Highlighted at the 8th PIDA Week

On 27 November 2025 the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) hosted a discussion on “Advancing Africa’s Energy Future – AU-EU collaboration for accelerated financing”.

The discussion was hosted during the 8th Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Week on 25-28 November in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The session highlighted African-European joint action for achieving SDG7 – access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all in through initiatives such as the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM), the Continental Power Systems Masterplan (CMP), and the Africa-EU Green Energy Initiative (AEGEI).

In her opening remarks, Ms Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO, AUDA-NEPAD, underlined the importance of these initiatives for Africa’s long-term development.

– Through investments in renewable energy Africa has the opportunity to leapfrog towards a low-carbon future while laying the groundwork for vibrant industries, sustainable agriculture, and an empowered private sector. By integrating energy solutions into our industrial development we can drive value addition, enhance competitiveness, and create millions of green jobs. Through platforms like AfSEM and CMP we are taking bold steps to connect national grids and unlock cross-border electricity trade.

Mr Gianluca Azzoni, Head of Policy and Cooperation, EU Delegation to the African Union, in his opening remarks noted that it is time to bring investments on energy in Africa to scale so that they can bring transformational impact. He continued by saying that traditionally the EU has worked through development cooperation, jointly with other partners, but that the EU now aims to work much more systematically with EU Member States as Team Europe so that all resources can be pooled and faster progress on shared African-European objectives can be made, as closing the investment gap is a priority.

The panel discussion, moderated by AEEP Head of Secretariat (AEEP) Dr Towela Nyirenda-Jere, focused on how African Member States and regional actors are solving financing to achieve SDG7.

Mr Peter Thobora, Deputy Director Renewable Energy, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Kenya, gave the example of the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project as a successful public-private partnership, and noted that Kenya is working on measures to derisk private investments, for example by looking at how risk sharing can support energy access in rural areas.

H.E. Amb. Emma Francoise Isumbingabo, Director for Energy at the CEPGL Organization for the Energy of the Great Lakes Region (EGL), shared the successes of the Ruzizi Hydroelectric Power Projects on the Ruzizi River, straddling the common border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The success of the power projects is much due to support from the EU, which has funded all the studies of Ruzizi III. The project is now nearing financial closer and expected to be on grid in 2030. The EU is also funding the studies of Ruzizi IV, which is expected to be on grid in 2033.

Ms Sara Elhag, Head of Energy Division, African Union Commission (AUC) focused on the continental level and pointed out that technical assistance and investments from partners must be directed to serve specific African priorities.  

– Close cooperation is needed so that we don’t have Member States that are far ahead and other are left behind. We need to work with those in crisis or dire situations and scale up investments to meet our goal, said Ms Elhag.

Bringing in the perspective of financiers, Mr Meshack Bandawe, General Secretary African Social Security Association (ASSA), informed that the African pension funds are prepared to mobilise resources for transport, airports, roads railway, energy and water infrastructure, to ensure long-term stable economic growth on the continent.

– We need to pool resources. Investments from pension funds can attract more investment, which will reduce project costs and speeds up project completion, said Mr Bandawe.

In addition, Mr Linus Mofor, Senior Natural Resources Officer, Energy, Infrastructure and Climate Change, African Climate Policy Centre, UN Economic Commission for Africa, spoke about the power of shifting the narrative.

– The Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) is doing a lot for shaping the narrative of energy in Africa, but still there is lots to be done. Team Europe is important and needs to be met by a united ‘Team Africa’.

He concluded by saying that Africa needs to take the lead based on a common position on energy and capitalise on the continent’s abundant resources. African countries should focus on building their own masterplans and ask partners to derisk in strong partnerships with the private sector. We need to build on genuine partnerships that focus on energy transitions that deliver, said Mr Mofor.

The 8th PIDA Week was hosted under the theme “Fostering Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructure for Africa’s Sustainable Growth: Leveraging Transformative Financing and Regional Integration”.