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Upcoming Webinar: Voluntary Carbon Markets Global Dialogue | Global Webinar
Upcoming Webinar: Voluntary Carbon Markets Global Dialogue | Global Webinar 600 377 KM

The Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM) Global Dialogue is hosting two webinar sessions where they will present the findings on how to shape the voluntary carbon market from the perspective of the Global South. The findings have emerged from in-depth consultations with VCM stakeholders in Asia-Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and will now be presented to a global audience. The webinars aim to enrich the findings of the VCM Global Dialogue regional consultations.

During the webinar, the presentation of the findings will be followed by a panel discussion with stakeholders from the supply side. Webinar participants are invited to ask questions and provide comments during the session, and provide written feedback on the findings after the meeting.

To confirm your participation, please register for one or both sessions via the links below:

VCM Global Dialogue Global Webinar session 1 | Tuesday 28 September 2021 | 8:00 AM UTC | Register here
VCM Global Dialogue Global Webinar session 2 | Tuesday 28 September 2021 | 2:00 PM UTC | Register here
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LEDS GP at the Regional Climate Weeks: building momentum for COP26
LEDS GP at the Regional Climate Weeks: building momentum for COP26 600 377 KM

LEDS GP at the Regional Climate Weeks: building momentum for COP26

And don’t miss Africa Climate week scheduled for 27-29 September 2021

 

How can countries around the world sustainably recover from the global pandemic? What are the specific challenges that the regions face? What possible solutions are out there that should be scaled up? These and many other questions were discussed during the Regional Climate Weeks 2021 which are aiming to accelerate collaboration and integrate climate action into a just global pandemic recovery.

“This is an opportunity for regional stakeholders to have their voice heard and contribute to COP 26“, the hosts at UNFCCC wrote ahead of the Climate Weeks 2021. It is a crucial year for global climate action – with COP26 in Glasgow, UK, coming up, recovery plans being drawn up around the world and the world entering into the first decade of implementing national climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. Against this backdrop, the Regional Climate Weeks 2021 aimed at building momentum towards success at COP26. They were open to all stakeholders as a ‘go-to’ hub to build partnerships and to showcase ambitious climate action in the regions. They were also designed to encourage and facilitate the implementation and raise the ambition of countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. Further key thematic topics included Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS), the implementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Climate Week

The LEDS Global Partnership, through its Regional Platforms and Working Groups, actively engaged in a number of events at the Regional Climate Weeks. The first to take place was the Latin America and the Caribbean Climate Week (LAC CW) from 11-14 May 2021.

Partnerships to promote climate action in LAC
13 May 2021, 11:00-11:55 (GMT-4)

Many partnerships in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region work towards climate action. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) organized an event at the LAC CW to analyze best practices in managing these partnerships for climate action. At this opportunity, Ms. Aida Figari presented the LEDS LAC Regional Platform. As a best practice example, Ms. Figari highlighted the Joint Event, co-organized jointly by LEDS LAC, GIZ’s EUROCLIMA+, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and UNDP. This was a challenging but very successful effort of knowledge exchange during the pandemic. In the course of 3 months, about 5000 people participated in this event series on “Climate Action in Times of Crisis: Fostering Sustainable Recovery post-COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean”.

Multi-level governance: Effectively integrating NDC implementation within sub-national planning and action
12 May 2021, 12:00-13:55 (GMT-4)

With around 80% of the population living in cities, the LAC region is highly urbanized. In order to bring together local, state-level and national actors, LEDS LAC together with the World Bank and the Chilean COP25 Presidency co-organized a session on multilevel governance, sharing experiences from the region’s Communities of Practice. Panelists included representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay. They agreed that different countries in the LAC region have developed comprehensive climate change legislation. Furthermore, coordination mechanisms bring together sectors as well as local, regional and national stakeholders. Finally, local GHG emission inventories support information-based decision making. Some of the challenges mentioned during the panel include high-level buy-in, communication strategies that drive behavioral changes, as well as effective monitoring and reporting systems.

Transport and Mobility – Imagining 2050
12 May 2021, 10:00-11:25 (GMT-4)

One of the key sectors for transitioning to carbon neutrality is transport. The LEDS GP Steering Committee Member and Secretary of Climate Change, Sustainable Development and Innovation at the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Argentina, Rodrigo Rodriguez Tornquist, made a powerful plea for more ambitious sustainable transport policies in an event on “Transport and Mobility – Imagining 2050”. In fact, many LAC countries are working towards vehicle electrification powered by low-carbon energy. These policies also disproportionally benefit poor people, as they rely most on affordable public or private transport.

What can these policies look like? Sanjini Nanayakkara from NREL and the LEDS Global Partnership provided inspiring examples from the LEDS GP network. For example, the LEDS GP Transport Working Group has supported the city of Bogotá with a strategy for shifting motorcycles from combustion to electric engines. This measure is extremely beneficial on many levels, not least of all because it is socially inclusive, benefitting workers and lower class families the most. Secondly, acknowledging that equity and inclusion are crucial, the LEDS Global Partnership recently launched a new initiative: a Global Community of Practice on Green and Socially Inclusive Economic Recovery. The “Transport and Mobility” event was moderated by Liz Castillo from SLOCAT, one of the implementing partners of the Transport Working Group. Other speakers represented the countries of Barbados, Panama, Peru and Uruguay, as well as GIZ and UNEP projects, among others.

LEDS LAC videos at the Action Hub

LEDS LAC also collaborated in two videos featured at the Action Hub. In the first video, LEDS LAC showcased the key findings from the beforementioned Joint Event. The video also presented testimonies of partners and messages from different stakeholders.

LEDS LAC was also featured at the Action Hub in a video by GIZ’s EUROCLIMA+ project regarding the NDC LAC tool. The NDC LAC tool by EUROCLIMA+ is the first platform in Spanish on the progress of climate action and ambition in the LAC region.

Asia-Pacific Climate Week

The Asia-Pacific Climate Week (APCW) 2021, hosted by the Japanese Government, took place from 6-9 July 2021. The LEDS network’s three side-events at the APCW (see details below) anchored transformational and ambitious climate action at different governance levels and showcased different real-world solutions contributing to the global effort to tackle climate change.

Implementation of Transformative Climate Action in Cities
6 July 2021, 17:00-18:30 (GMT+9)

The Asia LEDS Partnership and ICLEI South Asia together with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) organized a session on “Implementation of Transformative Climate Action in Cities”. Representatives from agencies at national, sub-national and local levels in South Asia presented their transformative climate initiatives. They also discussed the challenges, opportunities and key lessons with respect to climate action planning and implementation.

Find more information, including the summary report and the recording here.

Integrating Sustainable Energy and Transport in Island Territories
7 July 2021, 15:00-16:30 (GMT+9)

Another side event, hosted by the LEDS GP Transport Working Group, demonstrated how energy and transport systems can be integrated based on renewable energies and efficient electric mobility. The event showcased leading island communities from the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. The “Roadmap for the Integration of Sustainable Energy and Transport in Small Islands” was presented, a publication by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, LEDS Global Partnership, SLOCAT Partnership, and Reiner Lemoine Institute.

You can find a recording of the event here.

How to use climate transparency to achieve effective climate action and advance national development
12 May 2021, 14:00-14:50 (GMT-4), LAC CW
7 July 2021, 16:00-16:55 (GMT+9), APCW

At both the LAC CW and the APCW, the LEDS Global Partnership supported a side events by the #Data4BetterClimateAction campaign on climate transparency enhancement. The campaign embraces transparency as the backbone of the Paris Agreement. Sound data and information systems are a precondition for designing, implementing and tracking NDCs and long-term strategies (LTS) effectively. At the events, the #Data4BetterClimateAction campaign highlighted the multiple benefits of effective transparency frameworks: countries can advance effective climate action and fulfill the reporting requirements while at the same time meeting domestic development priorities. The events included remarks by the CEO and Chair Person of the Global Environment Facility, Carlos Manuel Rodrigo and by high-level representatives from Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, and Japan, as well as a recorded message from the Chair of GGGI, Ban Ki Moon that will be featured soon on the campaign’s website. Find out more about the #Data4BetterClimateAction campaign by visiting its website or following the hashtag on Twitter.

Africa Climate Week

The upcoming Africa Climate Week (ACW) is scheduled for 27-29 September 2021 and will be hosted by the Government of Uganda.

Further details on the participation of the Africa LEDS Partnership will follow soon.
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Upcoming Webinar: Linking Adaptation and Mitigation – Addressing Climate Change Through Integrated Responses
Upcoming Webinar: Linking Adaptation and Mitigation – Addressing Climate Change Through Integrated Responses 600 377 KM

Upcoming Webinar: Linking Adaptation and Mitigation – Addressing Climate Change Through Integrated Responses

24 September 2021 at 15:00 SAST

Hosted by: LEDS Global Partnership, NAP Global Network and Climate Week NYC
Date: September 24, 2021
Time: 3:00 p.m. SAST
Location: Zoom

Register here

Unprecedented mitigation efforts are required to meet the global goal of keeping global warming below 2°C pre-industrial levels. At the same time, this must be underpinned by robust adaptation strategies to anticipate and cope with the already unavoidable impacts of climate change.

Climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts have traditionally been approached as separate endeavours. However, there are compelling benefits to integrating them, such as using solutions that simultaneously reduce GHG emissions and enhance climate resilience. Without integrated and proactive strategies, project managers risk spending time and money on adaptation efforts that miss energy efficiency opportunities and/or emissions reduction goals.

In this event, we will revisit why integrating adaptation and mitigation is needed, and explore how to identify and plan integrated and holistic actions that address climate change adaptation and emissions reduction for a healthy, resilient zero-carbon future.

Participants will have the opportunity to hear from experts on designing and implementing integrated strategies. The discussion from this event will inform the development of a short joint policy brief on strengthening the links between mitigation and adaptation at the policy development and implementation level.

Panel speakers include:

  • Neranda Maurice-George, Green Climate Fund
  • Florian Eickhold, Factor – Ideas for Change
  • Dana Yermolyonok, Programme Advisor, GIZ Kazakhstan
  • George Wamukoya, Lead Negotiator on Agriculture, African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES)
  • Diego Arguedas Ortiz, Climate Change Directorate, Government of Costa Rica
  • Mikaela Rambali, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Note: This event is the third in a series (the Peer Learning Summit) – please find resources from the earlier sessions here.
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Upcoming Events: Good Practices in NDC Update and Implementation (Eastern and Southern Africa)
Upcoming Events: Good Practices in NDC Update and Implementation (Eastern and Southern Africa) 600 377 KM

Upcoming Events: Good Practices in NDC Update and Implementation (Eastern and Southern Africa)

1-2 September 2021

The Good Practices in NDC Update and Implementation: Challenges and Lessons Learned from Eastern and Southern Africa workshops will take place on the 1st and 2nd of September 2021. These two virtual workshops will provide an opportunity for Sub-Saharan African countries to come together, share their knowledge of Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) processes and good practices, provide peer-to-peer support and identify opportunities for cooperation between countries and development partners.

These workshops have been organised by the UNFCCC, Regional Collaboration Centre Kampala and NDC Partnership.

Click here for more details and to register for the events that will take place on 1 and 2 September from 14:00-17:30 East African Time (13:00-16:30 South African Standard Time).
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Job Opportunity: Project & Communication Assistant
Job Opportunity: Project & Communication Assistant 600 377 aflp

A Project & Communication Assistant position has become available for a project implemented by the African Association for Rural Electrification (CLUB-ER) in partnership with SouthSouthNorth:

Job title: Project & Communication Assistant 

Reports to: Executive secretary 

Location: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (with frequent travel in Africa)

CLUB-ER is a networking organization seeking to immediately hire an organized, motivated and detail-oriented multi-tasker to join our team. This individual will provide high-level administrative support within the project and communications activities. 

For more information, please refer to the full job description.

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to Hary Andriantavy, at hary_andriantavy@club-er.org.

Closing date: 29 December 2020
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Concept Note: AFOLU Community of Practice 2020
Concept Note: AFOLU Community of Practice 2020 2344 1304 aflp

Concept Note: AFOLU Community of Practice 2020

Countries in Africa are championing efforts to catalyze low emission climate-resilient development. As a key aspect of their efforts, countries are leading work in the AFOLU sector that align with key socio-economic development goals. To further these efforts and enable peer learning and application of learning to key policy measures and actions, the Africa LEDS Partnership and the AFOLU Working Group are partnering to re-launch an Africa AFOLU Community of Practice (CoP). The Africa AFOLU CoP is intended to be an interactive network comprised of national and subnational governments, technical institutions, businesses, non-profits and other international organizations addressing real-time policy and technical challenges and solutions related to the AFOLU sector. It is a platform for ongoing collaboration to allow for deeper learning and sustained participation, continuous access to tools and expert assistance, and to foster champions that will serve as role models for other countries in the regions. The AFOLU CoP is designed to be demand driven to meet members’ needs and will offer support and solutions to early movers as needs emerge. Objectives of the CoP are highlighted below.

The AFOLU CoP is designed to be demand-driven to meet members’ needs and offer support and solutions to early movers. Objectives
of the CoP are highlighted below.

Download the concept here
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Workshop Series: Strengthening the case for Mini-grids in Africa
Workshop Series: Strengthening the case for Mini-grids in Africa 1024 576 aflp

The LEDS GP is pleased to invite you to join the Africa LEDS Partnership virtual Workshop Series on “Strengthening the case for Mini-grids in Africa: Connecting the dots across rural electrification, climate resilience and sustainable development”. 

This is part of a four session virtual workshop series to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing on African mini-grids. 

16 April | 15:30 – 16:30 SAST/ 16:30 – 17:30 EAST 
Session 1: Introduction to the workshop and 2020 work programme (60 mins).

A private session for AMG-CoP members to catch up, introduce our general work programme (WP) for the year, discuss the current situation, our concept for the workshop, its shift to the virtual space and the planned programme. The AfLP used this opportunity to discuss and consult with members on the current Covid-19 pandemic, its impact on the AfLP work programme for 2020, as well as the emerging regional and country needs. 

16 April | 16:40 – 17:30 SAST/ 17:40 – 18:30 EAST 
Session 2: Making energy access through mini-grids affordable: The role of governments and international climate finance (60 mins).

This session explored the current mini-grid climate finance landscape in Africa and how tapping into available climate finance can strengthen both rural electrification and climate action. We looked at the financing landscape assessment that has been developed by the Finance Working Group, and heard from selected AMG-CoP members, as well as a Climate Fund representative.

Facilitator
Josh Ogada (SouthSouthNorth ) 

Speakers 
Alexia Kelly (Electric Capital) 
Alexander Obiechina (ACOB Lighting) 
Geoff Sinclair (CAMCO Clean Energy)
Alexander Ochs (SD Strategies)

Watch the recording below:

Download the presentations: Introductory Presentation (Josh Ogada); Alexia Kelly Presentation; Geoff Sinclair Presentation.

30 April | 15:30 – 17:00 SAST/ 16:30 – 18:00 EAST
Session 3: Exploring the rural electrification – climate resilience – sustainable development nexus (90 mins).

This session assessed the role of mini-grids in the current NDCs of Sub-Saharan African governments and discussed how a stronger focus on mini-grid-based rural electrification can increase climate ambition while delivering multiple sustainable development co-benefits. The session also delved into the co-benefits of mini-grid-based rural electrification, we heard from NREL about the landscape assessment of mini-grids in NDCs, in addition to perspectives from the ground on the integration of electrification, sustainable development and climate action at project level.

Host
Josh Ogada (SouthSouthNorth ) 

Speakers 
Alexander Ochs (SD Strategies) 
Franz Kottulinsky (Rift Valley)
Ieva Indriunaite (SD Strategies)
Dr Victor Osu (Rural Electrification Agency Nigeria)

Watch the recording below:

The Q&A list can be downloaded here.

Download the presentations: Josh and Alex’s combined slides; Franz Kottulinsky presentation; Ieva Indriunaite presentation

7 May | 15:30 – 17:00 SAST/ 16:30 – 18:00 EAST
Session 4: Exploring the rural electrification – climate resilience – sustainable development nexus (90 mins).

A private session for the AMG-CoP members to discuss their key take-aways from the virtual workshop and share experiences from their countries on how integrated rural electrification-climate-sustainable development planning can be put into practice. The session will conclude with a joint discussion on the next milestones for the CoP and a member survey of key topics of interest for their respective countries and regions.

This is a private session for AMG-CoP members only 

Facilitator
Josh Ogada (SouthSouthNorth ) 

Speakers 
Ieva Indriunaite (SD Strategies) 
Alexia Kelly (Electric Capital) 
Alexander Ochs (SD Strategies) 
Tim Reber (NREL) 
Additional Speakers and contributors TBC 

AMG-CoP members: You will receive a separate invite for the closed Sessions. However please do register for the open sessions using the links provided above

About: 
The African Mini-Grid Community of Practice (AMG-CoP) – a collaborative network of 16 African country governments – has identified mini-grids as a central element of developing a decarbonised, climate-resilient energy services sector for the nearly 600 million people across Africa who lack access to affordable, safe and clean energy. Mini-grids answer the call for solutions that deliver climate change mitigation and resilience, while also advancing economic and social development benefits. In 2020, governments around the world are required to submit their revised Nationally Determined Contribution strategies for reducing global carbon emissions. This creates a unique opportunity to strengthen the rural electrification – climate resilience – sustainable development nexus. 

Starting 16 April 2020, the AMG-CoP will convene a virtual 4-session workshop for its members and the broader community of energy access practitioners. This unique event will bring together (in the virtual space) African government leaders, climate finance experts, financial institutions and investors, as well as mini-grid developers and operators. The virtual workshop will assess the role of mini-grids in the current NDCs of Sub-Saharan African governments, discuss how a stronger focus on mini-grid-based rural electrification can increase climate ambition while delivering multiple sustainable development co-benefits, and identify the role of governments and international climate finance in this regard. 

This workshop will explore questions such as: 
• How can the sustainable development objectives of electrification, economic development and climate change mitigation and resilience be more effectively integrated? 
• How can energy access in Africa be advanced through climate finance? 
• How can public-private partnerships deliver enhanced electrification and other key community benefits, while also contributing to a stronger bottom line (economic performance) and more attractive investment environment for the private sector? 


The workshop will be co-convened by the Africa LEDS Partnership (AfLP) as well as the Finance Working Group and the Energy Working Group of the Low Emissions Development Strategies Global Partnership (LEDS GP) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). 

Photo credit: bbc.com
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AMG-CoP: 2019 Highlights and 2020 Priorities
AMG-CoP: 2019 Highlights and 2020 Priorities 2560 1708 aflp

AMG-CoP: 2019 Highlights and 2020 Priorities

Scaling Mini-grids Through Government-to-Government Collaboration

2019 was a big year for the African Mini-Grids Community of Practice (AMG-CoP). This coalition of 16 African member governments advanced key objectives across 5 priority areas of work all focused on fostering African leadership that supports mini-grids as a key energy access and economic development solution. The AMG-CoP is centered on empowering government leaders through peer engagement and knowledge exchange, with targeted expert input on key topics of interest identified by members. In 2019, the AMG-CoP: 

  • Called for Scaled Action and Support for Mini-grids in Africa: Members issued a communique at the 5th AMG-CoP meeting in Berlin, Germany, that called on governments, the donor community, philanthropists, and the private sector to increase action on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 and work towards meeting Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets for the energy sector in African countries. The communique highlighted the role of high-level political engagement and country-to-country exchanges, training, and technical collaboration as well as for needed support for accelerated work on access to international climate funds, support for local public and private finance mobilization, and finance de-risking strategy development and deployment. 
  • Engaged Across Governments and with the Private Sector: The Governments of Nigeria and Ethiopia conducted bilateral diplomatic and technical exchanges on mini-grid policy and regulatory frameworks with in-county meetings and site visits. These exchanges were highly successful and addressed core issues the governments are grappling with in their mini-grid deployment strategy including: policy and regulatory frameworks, tariffing structures, subsidy and ownership models, the importance of productive use, community engagement strategies, and incentive schemes. These government-to-government exchanges were identified as highly valuable in increasing internal government support and buy-in for integrating clean energy mini-grids into electrification efforts.  
  • Learned from Experts and Each Other: Members engaged in deep-dive, in-person training and exchange on mini-grid financing strategies, including blended financing strategies, access to international climate finance resources, public-private partnership models, and private capital mobilization strategies. The finance-focused work also explored the linkages between policy and regulation and finance mobilization and included targeted public-private dialogue on financing strategies and issues.

Looking Ahead in 2020: Scaled Resources Will be Required  

While investments from public and private sources in mini-grids are on the rise, the pace and magnitude of financing available is far below what is needed to scale the sector and achieve the UN SDGs.

The World Bank’s ESMAP programme estimates that “achieving universal access by 2030 will require the construction of more than 210,000 mini-grids globally, connecting 490 million people at an investment cost of almost $220 billion dollars.” To meet those targets nearly 21,000 mini-grids and more than $20 billion in investment — per year, every year — for the next decade will be required.

Current mini-grid deployment figures are pacing well below that, with only 7,500 mini-grids currently being planned across 57 countries with only $12 billion of investment slated. While the majority of those — nearly 4,000 — are being planned in Africa, only two countries, Nigeria and Senegal, account for half of that number.

Mini-grid development in Nigeria and Senegal represents important bright spots, but a network of developers, financiers and supportive regulatory structures across Africa will need to be rapidly developed and scaled to advance at the pace necessary to meet the SDGs. Significant progress has been made in a number of countries across these fronts that can be leveraged and built upon as new countries step up to the challenge and move to integrate clean energy mini-grids into their electrification efforts.

AMG-CoP 2020 Finance Priorities

The AMG-CoP member countries are ready and have identified finance mobilization as a key area of work. Finance-specific work in 2020 will focus on: 

  • Reducing Risk: Exploring mini-grid finance risk mitigation through hybrid ownership models, innovative business models and blended finance, with a particular focus on unlocking local capital sources and advancing direct community benefit, leveraging lessons learned from across the globe. 
  • Learning from Each Other: Supporting further peer-to-peer exchange and engagement on mini-grid finance strategies across governments as well as with other key players in the mini-grid finance sector, including: banks, the private sector, international financial institutions, and philanthropy. 
  • Linking Energy Access and Climate Finance: Accessing climate finance for mini-grid scale up in AMG-CoP member countries through climate finance mapping and identifying access channels and partners. More explicitly linking energy access and climate change mitigation and adaptation work, particularly in the energy sector, is a priority for member countries. To achieve scale, clearly integrating electrification and energy access efforts into NDC implementation under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and their associated sources of funding and technical support will be necessary.  
  • Harnessing Finance Innovation: Building on innovation in finance for mini-grid scaling through applied demonstration projects and programmes, including by working with the AMG-CoP members on innovative approaches to financing mini-grids, such as: blended finance, hybrid ownership models and public-private partnerships, crowdfunding, cryptocurrency, and other approaches. Member countries prioritized creating channels and pathways for innovative new approaches for energy access and clean energy mini-grid deployment to be piloted and scaled in their markets. 

2020 marks an important year in the march towards universal electrification and the AMG-CoP looks forward to further collaboration and partnership towards that end. 

To find out more about the AMG-CoP, please consult the concept note available here. If you actively work in the mini-grid landscape and would like to become a member, please contact the African LEDS Secretariat at AFRICASECRETARIAT@LEDSGP.ORG

Background

The African Mini-Grids Community of Practice (AMG-CoP) is a peer-to-peer working group for African government leaders committed to scaling up mini-grid policies and systems in their countries. The AMG-CoP is an initiative of the Africa LEDS Partnership (AfLP) supported by the LEDS GP Energy Working Group and LEDS GP Finance Working Group. This unique partnership is centered on peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchange among governments, and a member-driven process. 
The goal of the AMG-CoP is to advance the application of mini-grids as a key energy access and economic development solution that assists countries in achieving their economic, social development, and energy sector goals, as well as their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

AMG-CoP: 2019 Meetings

AMG-CoP Meeting 5 – Berlin, Germany

The AfLP hosted a 2 day workshop for members of the AMG-CoP in Berlin on 10 – 11 June 2019. This crash course was delivered in collaboration with the LEDS GP Finance Working Group, the Energy Working Group, and NREL and took place on the margins of the Global NDC Conference.

This workshop brought together 15 participants representing 10 African countries including Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Zambia, Uganda, Cameroon, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.

The objective of this workshop was to explore innovative business models for mini-grid acceleration in Africa. Day 1 kicked off with an overview of the various models for mini-grids: Public, Public-Private, Private, and Community-Owned. Proceeding this overview were presentations of relevant case studies, conversations and strategies on creating an enabling environment for productive end use, and a roundtable discussion on the importance of community engagement in the mini-grid development process. Topics covered in Day 2 included an overview of the mini grid finance landscape, peer-to-peer learning exchange report outs, crowdfunding opportunities for mini-grids, tools and resources for mini-grid scale-up, and a breakout discussion on key financing gaps in the minigrid market.

AMG-CoP Meeting 6 – Cape Town, South Africa

The AfLP hosted a crash course for members and non-members of the AMG-CoP in Cape Town on 13 September 2019. The crash course was delivered in collaboration with the LEDS GP Finance Working Group and NREL and took place on the fringe of the Global Climate Divest/Invest Summit.

The crash course brought together 21 participants from 13 countries comprising largely government officials, private sector representatives including the African Mini-Grid Developers Association (AMDA), and donor agencies.

The objective of the crash course was to focus on providing foundational knowledge on key aspects of the enabling environment for mini-grids to help new entrant countries evaluate, strategically plan and develop successful and sustainable mini-grid programs of their own.

Participants at the AMG-CoP Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa

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