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Insights from SADC Energy Week & the 6th International Off-Grid Renewable Energy Conference (IOREC)
Insights from SADC Energy Week & the 6th International Off-Grid Renewable Energy Conference (IOREC) 2380 1416 Jamie

Powering the Future: Insights from SADC Energy Week & the 6th International Off-Grid Renewable Energy Conference (IOREC)

The much-anticipated 2024 Southern African Development Community (SADC) Sustainable Energy Week (SADC-SEW) was held in Gaborone, Botswana from the 24th – 28th February 2025. The theme of this year’s SADC-SEW was centred around “Accelerating Sustainable Energy Solutions for an Energy Secure SADC Region” aiming to catalyse the adoption of sustainable energy practices across the region. The conference focused on highlighting key opportunities in the renewable energy, energy efficiency sectors and programmes along the energy value chain and fostered collaboration and innovation in the energy sector. 

The five-day event brought together key stakeholders such as high-level international, regional and national officials, as well as representatives from public and private sectors to address the pressing energy challenges faced by the SADC region, as well as, to highlight successful energy initiatives within the region.  

In parallel to SADC-SEW, the Botswana government convened the sixth International Off-grid Renewable Energy Conference and Exhibition (IOREC).The conference brought together officials, experts and practitioners from different regions of the world to discuss how off-grid renewables can aid the achievement of  Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) whilst supporting other sustainable development climate goals. The theme of this year’s conference was focused on “Translating commitments to actions: off-grid renewables for socioeconomic development and climate action”. During the conference, discussions were centred around enabling policies, financing schemes, innovative business models and technology applications for scaling up off-grid renewable energy.   

During the IOREC conference the Growing Government Engagement in Energy Access (GGE-EA) project co-hosted a side event with Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and Rocky Mountain Institute’s (RMI) African Mini-Grid Programme (AMP). The event, titled “Mini-Grids as Infrastructure: Barriers, Opportunities, and Lessons Learnt,” explored key challenges and opportunities in the sector. 

Photo: Speakers during the panel discussion

The side session featured a panel discussion with speakers from both the public and private sectors. The panellists shared their perspectives on current energy usage and access in rural areas, as well as the measures in place to expand energy availability. During the discussion, they emphasised the need to consider not only energy access itself but also its impact on infrastructure and the opportunities it can create for these communities. 

Mr. Gillian-Alexandre, CEO of ENGIE Energy Access, highlighted the need for strategic measures to support off-grid energy solutions. He emphasised the challenges of setting electricity tariffs in rural areas and the importance of raising awareness about clustering projects to attract greater investment. 

He explained that setting excessively high tariffs in rural areas could make electricity unaffordable, leading to underutilization. To address this, he suggested a balanced approach, such as establishing a fund that subsidizes rural electricity tariffs using revenue from urban areas. 

Additionally, Gillian-Alexandre stressed the need for project clustering to attract commercial investment and increase private-sector involvement. This approach not only reduces potential risks but also makes projects more appealing to a wider range of stakeholders. 

Photo: CLUB-ER & RMI’s AMP members during the side session

The second speaker, Mr. Ayodeji Ojo, Senior Associate for the African Energy Programme at RMI, highlighted the importance of well-defined, clear, and consistent policies for effective implementation. He also highlighted the critical need for strong public-private coordination to drive successful energy initiatives. 

The session concluded with closing remarks from Kelly Linus Chanda, CEO of the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) in Zambia. She stressed that to secure $9.5 million in private sector investment, the government must be more responsive to the needs of private investors. This responsiveness, she explained, is essential for achieving the goals associated with the funding. 

Photo: GGEEA Project team (AfCAP & CLUB-ER) &  RMI and AMP representatives

Key takeaways from the discussions magnified the importance of balancing affordability and investment to expand energy access in rural areas, as well as the necessity of clustering projects to attract private-sector engagement. Additionally, the dialogue reinforced the need for clear, consistent policies to ensure the successful implementation of off-grid energy initiatives. 

The Growing Government Engagement in Energy Access project has been funded by 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. 
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Mobilising PUE technologies & finance to catalyse mini-grid development 
Mobilising PUE technologies & finance to catalyse mini-grid development  800 400 Jamie

WEBINAR:  Mobilising PUE technologies & finance to catalyse mini-grid development

To accelerate the Productive Use of Energy (PUE) in mini-grid development across Africa, it is essential to deploy scalable technologies and innovative financing mechanisms tailored to local contexts. PUE not only stimulates economic growth in rural communities but also strengthens the bankability of mini-grid projects. Yet, developers and utilities often neglect the energy needs of end-users in their financial planning. 

Integrating advanced, productivity-enhancing technologies, particularly in vital sectors like agriculture, is key to ensuring the long-term sustainability of mini-grids. At the same time, mobilising finance for PUE must become a central priority. Innovative financial models are needed to embed PUE into mini-grid business strategies and make transformative technologies accessible to end-users. 

Achieving this vision demands strong collaboration between public and private stakeholders, alongside active support from development funders.

In this spirit, the African Climate Action Partnership (AfCAP), the Growing Government Engagement in Energy Access Project (GGE-EA), and the African Association for Rural Electrification (CLUB-ER) recently concluded their webinar series, “Techno-economic and Business Model Foundations for Productive Use of Energy and Mini-grids in Africa”.  

The final webinar, “Mobilising PUE Technologies and Finance to Drive Mini-grid Expansion”, emphasised the pivotal role of financing in scaling energy solutions. It highlighted successful examples of technology and finance mobilisation, offering replicable models for deployment across Africa. 

For those who wish to visit the live presentations, you can access the recording here: Mobilising PUE technologies and finance to catalyse mini-grid development 

Webinar Presentations

For those who wish to revisit the previous webinars please find the recordings below:  

  1. Webinar 1: Analysing the potential to unlock Energy-Agriculture synergies  
  1. Webinar 2: Building a business case for productive use of energy in mini grid development and operations 

The Growing Government Engagement in Energy Access project has been funded by 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.  
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Improved Cookstoves (ICS) & Climate Finance Webinar
Improved Cookstoves (ICS) & Climate Finance Webinar 1362 774 Jamie

ICS and Climate Finance: Synergising Efforts for Sustainable Development

The global shift toward sustainable development and climate resilience has highlighted the link between energy, health, and the environment. Improved Cook Stoves (ICS) are key to reducing household air pollution, reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, and providing economic benefits to economies. Climate finance—funds from developed nations and other sources—supports developing countries in reducing emissions and adapting to climate change. Integrating climate finance mechanisms is crucial to scaling ICS adoption and transitioning to cleaner energy. By providing financial support and investing in capacity-building, research and development, sustainable and locally driven solutions for clean cooking can be developed and aid in the reduction of GHG emissions and combat climate change.

Given this, on the 30th of October 2024, the African Climate Action Partnership (AfCAP) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) funded GIZ programme “Promotion of Climate-Friendly Cooking: Kenya and Senegal” co-hosted and resumed the webinar series on “Promoting ICS for reaching NDC targets”. The third webinar entitled “ICS and Climate Finance: Synergising Efforts for Sustainable Development” provided insights to the climate finance landscape and opportunities for clean cooking projects and explain how setting NDC targets can result into climate financing.

This webinar explored the role of climate finance in promoting ICS. Participants learnt about various climate financing mechanisms, the synergies between NDCs targets and climate financing. Best practices and success stories and innovative strategies to encourage collaboration among stakeholders were shared.

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

Presentation
Webinar Recording – French
Webinar Recording – English

Resources shared during the webinar:

  1. Investment criteria indicators | Green Climate Fund
  2. Climate–friendly cooking: demonstrating CO2 emission reductions
  3. Readiness and preparatory support | Green Climate Fund
  4. Targets | Climate Action Tracker
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Business Foundations For PUE & Mini-grids In Africa
Business Foundations For PUE & Mini-grids In Africa 1565 880 Jamie

Techno-economic and Business Model Foundations for Productive Use of Energy and Mini-grids in Africa 

Webinar 2: Building a business case for productive use of energy (PUE) in mini-grid development and operations

On the 16 October 2024, the African Climate Action Partnership (AfCAP) in partnership with the African Association for Rural Electrification (CLUB-ER) under the Growing Government Engagement in Energy Access (GGE-EA) project, convened the second webinar of the three-part series: “Techno-economic and Business Model Foundations for Productive Use of Energy and Mini-grids in Africa”. The second webinar focused on “Building a business case for Productive Use of Energy (PUE) in mini-grid development and operations”.

The aim of this webinar was to provide an overview of how to utilise datasets to develop business cases for Productive Use of Energy (PUE).  During the session we explored key case studies and learnings for how to effectively develop delivery models and business models for integrating PUE into mini-grid projects to support more impactful and sustainable energy access.

The Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) provided valuable insights into PUE delivery models, business models, and the integration of these models into rural mini-grids drawing examples from the Africa Mini-grid Program. During the session, Africa Mini-grid Developers Association (AMDA) provided their perspectives and experiences on business cases for 5 different types of energy usage. The presentation unpacked the challenges such as the lack of financing and equipment which these businesses experience.

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

Webinar Recording
Presentations

The next webinar in the series will be focused on Mobilising PUE technologies and finance to catalyse mini-grid development.  

This activity was funded by Growing Government Engagement in Energy Access (GGEEA) project funded with UK aid from the UK government via the Transforming Energy Access programme.
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Regenerative Agrivoltaics in Africa for Improved Livelihoods & Climate Resilience
Regenerative Agrivoltaics in Africa for Improved Livelihoods & Climate Resilience 1600 720 Jamie

Regenerative Agrivoltaics in Africa for Improved Livelihoods, Climate Resilience, and Agricultural Decarbonization webinar

On the 10th of October 2024, the African Climate Action Partnership in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL) co-convened a webinar entitled “Regenerative Agrivoltaics in Africa for Improved Livelihoods, Climate Resilience, and Agricultural Decarbonization”. The webinar showcased case studies of agrivoltaics systems in  Africa, highlighted best practices and trade-offs, and explored potential applications and research areas in Africa to improve livelihoods, adapt to climate change, and support national Nationally Determined Contribution’s (NDCs) and local low-carbon sustainable development strategies.

The webinar began with a brief introduction to agrivoltaics and an overview of the benefits, challenges and insights on the different configurative agrivoltaics. During the session, numerous benefits from agrivoltaics usage in Africa were explained and how the various business models were used to improve rural communities water irrigation systems and cold storage for crop yields.

The webinar continued by providing a few case studies of the effectiveness of agrivoltaics on food, energy and water. The first case study focused on community-based solutions for food, energy and water resilience. It outlined how solar energy can provide basic energy usage whilst simultaneously providing great crop yields and better working environments for community members. The second case study gave an overview of the impacts of agrivoltaics on food production, energy generation and water conservation in East Africa. The implementation of a configurative agrivoltaics can support farmers by minmising the need for irrigation as it provides crops with shade which aids in the growth of crops. This indicates crops provided greater yields with less water and energy needed.

Furthermore, these case studies showcased how agrivoltaics can support livelihoods, maintain and uplift rural community’s economy. Moving onto the second last segment of the webinar shared the opportunities and co-benefits of decarbonizing agriculture with regenerative agrivoltaics. Points on greenhouse gas mitigation, water conservation, soil health improvement and biodiversity conservation are providing long impact improvement to climate change risks.

The final segment of the webinar focused on how to map biophysical features to depict where it is most suitable for crops to be yielded East Africa. A suitability analysis is a tool used to assess and analyse if a space is beneficial for agrivoltaics in East Africa. The tool illustrated best areas to produce agrivoltaics yielded crops as well as how agrivoltaics could assist with areas under the risk towards climate change factors. 

If you would like to view the webinar recording and read through PowerPoint presentation, please follow the links below:

Presentation
Webinar Recording
Webinar Resource (RE:Harvesting the Sun)
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Strengthening Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) through robust Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventories
Strengthening Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) through robust Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventories 2594 1405 Jamie

Strengthening Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) revisions through robust Livestock Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventories

To strengthen climate ambitions and effectively contribute to the goals under the Paris Agreement, many African countries will be submitting their revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2025. A critical area for improvement in NDC commitments, is to strengthen national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories, particularly in agriculture, where accurate data is crucial for aligning climate goals with food security targets. Moving from tier 1 to tier 2 inventories would enhance reporting and monitoring systems, enabling countries to set robust climate targets.

However, African nations face challenges, including lack of reliable data on agricultural practices, land use and emission estimates, limited technical expertise, limited resources, and weak institutional frameworks which hinder accurate agricultural inventories and limit the ability to set robust targets. Addressing these gaps could enhance reporting, improve monitoring, provide insights on emissions from farming practices, and guide targeted mitigation.

To discuss these issues, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Regional Collaboration Centre (RCC) for East and Southern Africa and the Africa Climate Action Partnership (AfCAP) hosted a webinar entitled “Strengthening NDC revisions through robust livestock GHG inventories” on the 18th of September 2024.

This webinar provided an overview of the process and the necessary steps for developing tier 2 inventories and how to translate these into NDC targets. Experts from Kenya and Zimbabwe shared their experiences of challenges and limitations in developing inventories and highlighting opportunities to mobilise resources to strengthen GHG inventories. During the session participants had the opportunity to explore more robust and concrete NDC targets.

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

Webinar Recording
Webinar Presentation
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Malawi Livestock Sector Steps Up Climate Accountability with GHG Training
Malawi Livestock Sector Steps Up Climate Accountability with GHG Training 1359 843 Jamie

Malawi Livestock Sector Steps Up Climate Accountability with GHG Training

Malawi’s carbon footprint is relatively small compared to its neighbors, but as its population grows, accurate GHG inventories for livestock are essential for informing the country’s nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and long-term strategies (LTS). With about 80% of rural livelihoods dependent on agriculture, identifying climate-resilient, low-emission livestock practices is crucial for sustainable economic development in Malawi.

From November 20-21, 2023, AfCAP hosted the Strengthening National Response to Climate Smart Livestock Workshop in Salima, Malawi. The workshop aimed to raise awareness and enhance understanding of GHG emissions in the livestock sector. Key issues identified included the need for broader stakeholder engagement and information on priority data gaps for Tier 2 assessments. In response, the Malawi Department of Animal Health and Livestock Development (DAHLD) and Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUNAR) partnered with the Global Climate Action Partnership’s (GCAP) Climate Action Accelerator (CAA) to organize a 2-day virtual capacity-building workshop with stakeholders and local experts.

The workshop consisted of two virtual sessions held on September 3-4, 2024. The first session addressed livestock and climate change policies in relation to Malawi’s Tier 2 GHG inventory, featuring presentations from two government officials. This was followed by insights into Malawi’s Tier 1 and 2 GHG inventories, culminating in a discussion on data collection challenges and needs for the Tier 2 inventory.

The second session focused on improving inventory data and climate financing. It included a presentation on priority data collection needs for the Tier 2 inventory, as well as experiences from Kenya and Zimbabwe on leveraging climate finance for livestock MRV systems. The session concluded with a discussion where stakeholders proposed next steps for advancing Malawi’s livestock Tier 2 GHG inventory in future reporting cycles.

To read more about the outcomes and the next steps following this training download the report below:

Outcome Report here
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Building Better Livestock Emission Inventories Through Senegal-Mali Collaboration
Building Better Livestock Emission Inventories Through Senegal-Mali Collaboration 1506 793 Jamie

Building Better Livestock Emission Inventories Through Senegal-Mali Collaboration

From the 2nd – 3rd September 2024, the African Climate Action Partnership hosted a technical exchange workshop entitled “Strengthening Livestock GHG Inventory using an enhanced approach” between Senegal and Mali in Saly, Senegal. The workshop aimed to increase awareness and knowledge around livestock Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory development and was attended by stakeholders from both countries’ climate and livestock ministries.

The workshop objectives were to: 1) Present the Tier 2 livestock GHG inventory process; 2) Strengthen the capacities of stakeholders on the Tier 2 livestock GHG inventory approach and; 3) Propose a roadmap for the effective implementation of national Tier 2 GHG inventory.

Following the event, important next steps were discussed. These included: the need to secure funding; enhancing collaboration among stakeholders; establishing a sustainable research program; building capacity of stakeholders and; adapting tools.

To read more about the outcomes and next steps of the event download the meeting report below:

Outcome Report – English
Outcome Report – French
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