African Climate Action Partnership

Partnering on climate action in Africa
  • Roy Bouwer
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The AfLP Takes on a New Name, and New Livery
The AfLP Takes on a New Name, and New Livery 1640 442 Roy Bouwer

The AfLP Takes on a New Name, and New Livery

The Africa LEDS Partnership (AfLP) is rebranding as the African Climate Action Partnership (AfCAP). 2023 marks 10 years of the Africa LEDS Partnership (AfLP). Ahead of this key milestone, the partnership has reflected on what has been achieved and how our priorities have evolved. Over the last decade, the AfLP membership grew to over 39 countries and 800 members across the African continent as well as a range of international institutions. The partnership now has three active Communities of Practice(CoP) focused on Mini-grids, Livestock and Soil Organic Carbon and will soon be launching a new CoP focused on low emission and climate resilient paddy rice. With our ever-growing membership and maintaining our member driven approach we have since refined our strategic focus.

AfCAP remains a key regional platform of the Global Climate Action Partnership (GCAP), formerly the Low Emission Development Strategies Global Partnership (LEDS GP). The key impetus for the rebrand of AfLP is to align better with the recently-rebranded  Global Climate Action Partnership (GCAP).

The partnership is cognisant during this period of the name and visual recognition long associated with AfLP. The AfLP will thus treat this as a transition period to ensure that there is a gradual evolution so that the partnership does not lose that recognition. Over the next couple of months, AfLP will be rolling out the new branding (AfCAP). We will continue to keep our members and partners apprised along the way.

This change will not alter how AfLP works, or our focus on Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS). Rather, this will allow the partnership expand its focus to climate resilient development as a whole. Over time AfLP’s work has been involved in has extended above and beyond just LEDS. This rebrand will allow the partnership to broaden the scope of climate action work that AfLP has thus far been involved in.

As the AfCAP, we will continue to be a platform for peer learning. AfCAP’s aim remains the same:  fostering African Climate Champions with the intention to accelerate climate action on the continent of Africa. AfCAP is excited to embark on this new journey and excited for the membership to be a part of this.

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  • Jamie
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Leveraging Productive Use of Energy for Economic Growth and Employment
Leveraging Productive Use of Energy for Economic Growth and Employment 2560 1058 Jamie

Leveraging Productive Use of Energy for Economic Growth and Employment

Overview:

Solar mini-grids are expanding reliable, affordable electricity access in rural areas, supporting local businesses, households, and essential services. Their long-term success depends on strong community engagement, flexible financing models, and supportive policies that attract private investment and promote local ownership. Coupling these systems with the Productive Use of Electricity (PUE) transforms energy access from a basic service into a catalyst for inclusive economic growth and social development. PUE refers to activities that utilise energy (electric or non-electric) to improve income and overall well-being. In rural settings, these activities commonly occur in sectors like agriculture, small-scale enterpreises, healthcare, and education. By powering irrigation, milling, refrigeration, and small enterprises, PUE boosts productivity, creates jobs, and improves livelihoods, especially for women and youth. This brief explores how integrating PUE within mini-grid projects can unlock economic potential, strengthen system sustainability, and drive rural transformation. It highlights practical strategies, financing innovations, and partnership models that enable communities to turn electricity access into long-term, low-carbon prosperity.

Download the brief here

This material has been developed by the GGE-EA project and funded by UK International Development from the UK Government; however the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.
  • Jamie
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Unlocking Synergies: Private Sector Partnerships for Universal Energy Access
Unlocking Synergies: Private Sector Partnerships for Universal Energy Access 2560 922 Jamie

Unlocking Synergies: Private Sector Partnerships for Universal Energy Access

Overview:

Energy access is a critical driver of sustainable development, poverty reduction, and improved quality of life, particularly in rural areas where lack of electricity hinders healthcare, education, and economic opportunity. Despite global progress, a significant portion of the global population still lacks access to electricity and clean cooking fuels. Renewable energy solutions, such as solar micro-grids, biogas digesters, and micro-hydro plants, have transformed communities in countries like Bangladesh, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania,, enhancing productivity, empowering women, and improving health and education. This brief shows how the private sector plays a vital role in expanding energy access by identifying market needs, deploying innovative technologies like pay-as-you-go solar and mini-grids, and leveraging hybrid financing models that blend public, philanthropic, and private capital. De-risking strategies, including community engagement, transparent tariffs, and policy incentives, help attract investment and ensure long-term sustainability. Governments and Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) support this ecosystem through regulatory frameworks, guarantees, and investor outreach.

Download the brief here

This material has been developed under the GGE-EA project and funded by UK International Development from the UK Government; however the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.
  • Jamie
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Empowering Communities: Policy & Governance for Sustainable Mini-Grids
Empowering Communities: Policy & Governance for Sustainable Mini-Grids 2560 970 Jamie

Empowering Communities: Policy & Governance for Sustainable Mini-Grids

Overview:

Rural electrification across Africa is advancing through a combination of policy reform, public-private collaboration, and community-led initiatives. Governments and regional networks are working to expand energy access by sharing best practices and promoting inclusive, sustainable development. This brief showcases how supportive regulatory frameworks and streamlined procurement processes are helping to attract private investment and align energy projects with national priorities. Incentive programmes and blended finance models are unlocking local and international investment, while stakeholder engagement ensures community ownership and long-term impact. Mini-grids are increasingly recognised for their role in improving livelihoods and driving progress in sectors like health, education, and agriculture. Underpinning these efforts are principles of equity and inclusion, guided by global frameworks such as the United Nations Leave No One Behind (LNOB), and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), which help manage risks, build trust, and position decentralised energy systems as a cornerstone of resilient development.

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This material has been developed under the GGE-EA project and funded with UK aid from the UK government via the Transforming Energy Access platform; however the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.
  • Jamie
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Fair Returns, Fair Access: Regulation for Inclusive Mini-Grids
Fair Returns, Fair Access: Regulation for Inclusive Mini-Grids 2560 960 Jamie

Fair Returns, Fair Access: Regulation for Inclusive Mini-Grids

Overview:

Access to electricity remains a major global challenge, with around 770 million people, mostly in rural areas, still living without it. Mini-grids offer a practical solution by using local renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and biomass to provide reliable power. These systems can work independently or alongside national grids, improving energy access and resilience. However, strong regulatory frameworks are essential to ensure safety, fair pricing, and investor confidence. This brief showcases how regulations help maintain quality standards, encourage private investment, and support sustainable development by promoting clean energy. A well-structured approach to mini-grid regulation includes licensing, tariff setting, procurement processes, and technical standards. Successful examples from countries like Senegal, Benin, and Cameroon show how clear rules can attract investment and expand electricity access. Moving forward, adaptive policies, innovation, and collaboration between governments and private sectors will be key to scaling mini-grids and achieving universal, sustainable energy access.

Download the brief here

This material has been developed under the GGE-EA project and funded with UK aid from the UK government via the Transforming Energy Access platform; however the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.
  • Jamie
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Best Practices in MV & LV Design & Maintenance in Mini-Grids
Best Practices in MV & LV Design & Maintenance in Mini-Grids 2560 1160 Jamie

Best Practices in MV & LV Design & Maintenance in Mini-Grids

Overview

Expanding access to electricity is critical for improving health, education, and livelihoods in rural communities. Yet delivering reliable power in these areas, especially through mini-grids, comes with many challenges, from high costs and difficult terrain to limited data and maintenance capacity. This brief outlines practical guidance for developing and managing Medium-Voltage (MV) and Low-Voltage (LV) networks in rural mini-grids. It covers key areas including how to forecast energy demand, size and design network components, plan village electrification, ensure long-term maintenance, address operational challenges, minimise environmental impact, and prepare for repairs. The aim is to equip practitioners and Rural Electrification Agencies (REAs) with clear, actionable insights to help build resilient, efficient, and sustainable mini-grids that truly serve communities.

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This material has been developed under the GGE-EA Project and funded by UK International Development from the UK Government; however the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies
  • Jamie
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Making Mini-Grids Work: Practical Approaches to Economic & Financial Analysis
Making Mini-Grids Work: Practical Approaches to Economic & Financial Analysis 2560 956 Jamie

Making Mini-Grids Work: Practical Approaches to Economic and Financial Analysis

Overview

Access to electricity is essential for reducing poverty, improving health and education, and supporting jobs, especially in rural areas. But true access means more than just having power; it must be reliable, affordable, and useful. This brief explores how households, businesses, and public services use electricity differently, and how their needs can be met through solutions like mini-grids, solar home systems, and shared energy services. It highlights the importance of understanding local demand, choosing the right technologies, and planning for both technical and financial sustainability. The brief also explains funding options, like loans, grants, and investments, and how clean energy projects can reduce emissions and support climate goals. Overall, it offers practical guidance for delivering inclusive, sustainable energy to underserved communities.

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This material has been developed under the GGE-EA Project and funded with UK aid from the UK government via the Transforming Energy Access platform; however the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.
  • Jamie
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Aligning SDG 7 with NDCs
Aligning SDG 7 with NDCs 1600 900 Jamie

Powering Climate Action: Aligning Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

On the 21st of August 2025, the African Climate Action Partnership (AfCAP) together with the Growing Government Engagement in Energy Access Project (GGE-EA), funded with UK aid from the UK government via the Transforming Energy Access platform (TEA), and the African Association for Rural Electrification (CLUB-ER), co-convened a webinar entitled ‘Powering Climate Action: Aligning Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)’.

Energy access remains a major development challenge in Africa, efforts to expand access often operate in isolation from climate goals, missing key opportunities for alignment and financing. The webinar explored how SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) aligns with the goals of the Paris Agreement, and how these frameworks could be leveraged to drive the deployment of clean energy solutions. It unpacked the linkages between SDG 7 and climate action, highlighting the role of renewable energy in reducing emissions, and examining how countries can better align clean energy initiatives with national climate targets.  

The first presentation was done by Minky Groenewald from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Regional Collaboration Centers (RCC) for East & Southern Africa (EASA). She provided a clear introduction to the Paris Agreement and its role in global climate governance, emphasisng the shift toward country-led commitments through COP negotiations. She explained the importance of NDCs and Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS) as tools for setting and achieving climate mitigation targets, highlighting how these frameworks enable countries to align with global goals, attract climate finance, and promote sustainable development. Crucially, she underscored the need to integrate energy access into NDCs and LT-LEDS, especially in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, by prioritising renewable energy, clean cooking solutions, and inclusive strategies that support a just transition and equitable growth.  

This was followed by a country experience presentation conducted by Esther Wang’ombe, Director Renewable Energy, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, from Kenya. Wang’ombe offered a comprehensive overview of Kenya’s energy access goals, emphasising the efforts to expand reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy services to underserved communities, with clear targets aimed at achieving universal access. She then outlined the nation’s climate ambitions and NDCs, detailing mitigation and adaptation strategies designed to meet international climate commitments while fostering resilience. Finally, the presentation explored the alignment between SDG 7 and climate objectives, illustrating how integrated policy frameworks and cross-sectoral implementation approaches are being used to advance both agendas simultaneously, ensuring inclusive development and environmental sustainability. 

Aimee Tredoux, Project Manager & Research Assistant at SouthSouthNorth (SSN), delivered an engaging presentation on Climate Finance as a Catalyst for Climate Action. She began by defining climate finance and its critical role in enabling low-carbon, climate-resilient development. She highlighted the persistent climate finance gap, underscoring the disparity between available funding and the scale of investment needed to meet global climate goals. The presentation explored the synergies between illustrating how aligned financial flows can accelerate progress on both climate and energy access fronts. Aimee unpacked various financing mechanisms and traced the movement of climate-related funds, using case studies from South Africa and Nigeria to ground the discussion in real-world examples. She addressed practical challenges such as access barriers, institutional capacity, and policy coherence, before concluding with actionable next steps and key takeaways, emphasising the urgency of mobilising finance to unlock transformative climate action.  

To view the recording of the webinar and presentations please use the links down below: 

Webinar Presentation
Webinar Recording

The Growing Government Engagement in Energy Access project has been funded with UK aid from the UK government via the Transforming Energy Access platform; however, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.  
  • Jamie
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Agricultural Policy and Institutional Arrangements to enable Climate-Smart Rice
Agricultural Policy and Institutional Arrangements to enable Climate-Smart Rice 1600 900 Jamie

Agricultural Policy and Institutional Arrangements to enable Climate-Smart Rice

On the 12th of August 2025, the African Climate Action Partnership (AfCAP) hosted a webinar on “Agricultural Policy and Institutional Arrangements to enable Climate-Smart Rice”. This webinar explored how agricultural policy, and institutional arrangements can support the transition to climate-smart rice production. This session highlighted enabling policy frameworks and showcased national examples of innovative approaches and effective institutional coordination. The webinar also aided in identifying critical policy and institutional gaps that hinder the adoption of low-emission, climate-resilient rice practices.   

Dr. Jimmy Lamo, Senior Principal Research Officer & Rice Breeding Lead at National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), opened the session on the Role of Research in Shaping Climate-Smart Policy. He emphasized that research provides the evidence needed to understand climate change, improve rice production, and reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, especially methane and nitrous oxide from rice farming practices. Dr. Lamo explained that key research areas include assessing climate impacts, developing resilient rice varieties through seed breeding, improving water and nutrient management, and promoting conservation agriculture such as perennial rice. He highlighted the importance of translating scientific findings into practical tools for policymakers and communities, supported by international collaboration and public awareness. Two case studies were shared: one on a high-yield, nutrient-efficient rice variety (WDR 7), and another on integrated pest management to reduce chemical use and promote crop rotation.  

Dr. Mary Mutembei, Head of the Rice Promotion Programme at the State Department for Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development in Kenya, opened up the second session on Enabling policy environments for scaling Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) for rice. This session emphasized the critical role of policies and institutions in scaling-up climate-smart rice cultivation. Despite extensive research and innovation, adoption remains low due to inconsistent policies, limited farmer awareness, weak extension services, and inadequate financial incentives.

Dr. Mutembei highlighted the need for coherent policy frameworks, stakeholder engagement, and gender equity, while stressing the importance of ministries, research bodies, and advisory services in driving adoption. Approaches like farmer training, public-private partnerships, and market-based incentives were recommended to boost uptake. Ultimately, she called for stronger collaboration, better funding, and integration of climate goals into agricultural support systems to overcome challenges and accelerate adoption. 

The final presentation was given by Rosemary Murori, Collaborative Research Scientist at International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), on the importance of building stakeholder alignment across rice systems. During her presentation Murori emphasized the importance of building strong stakeholder and institutional alignment to effectively scale climate-smart rice technologies. She highlighted that rice is a vital crop for global food security, grown by millions of farmers and consuming significant water resources, making climate-smart solutions essential. Murori stressed that no single institution can tackle these challenges due to limited resources and diverse mandates, calling for collaboration across research centers, governments, private sector, and scaling partners. She underscored the need for market intelligence to guide research and breeding efforts, ensuring technologies meet the needs of farmers, consumers, and markets. It was emphasized that deploying technologies is not just about availability, it’s about timing and coordination. Seeds must be accessible when farmers need them, and digital tools should be used to predict demand and guide seed producers. Monitoring and evaluation are also vital to track adoption and inform policy decisions.  Rosemary also highlighted the role of capacity building, showing how simple innovations, like upgrading seed dressing equipment, can dramatically improve efficiency and dissemination. Her message was clear: without strategic alignment and shared resources, even the best technologies risk remaining unused, limiting their potential to improve livelihoods and climate resilience. 

To view the recording of the webinar and presentations please use the links down below: 

Webinar Presentation
Webinar Recording

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