The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Government of Sierra Leone have officially launched the second Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA) Investment Forum, aimed at scaling up investments to advance the energy transition and green industrialisation across APRA countries.
The APRA Investment Forum also includes matchmaking opportunities and a project exhibition that provides regional developers with a platform to showcase their projects and gain exposure to global investors and financiers.
The high-level event takes place just days after the launch of a new IRENA report at the Pre-COP in Brasília, Brazil, which revealed that Africa accounted for only 1.6 percent of newly installed renewable capacity in 2024.
Renewables have become the most affordable source of power generation, yet the gap between Africa’s vast renewable energy potential and actual deployment remains wide. We must act urgently and collaboratively to remove persistent financial barriers and ensure affordable capital reaches viable projects. Through the APRA Investment Forum, IRENA is deploying its full range of project facilitation tools and partnerships to de-risk investment, unlock innovative financing, and channel capital where it is most needed, said Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA.
The two-day event builds on the success of last year’s inaugural forum in Nairobi, Kenya, which mobilised a project pipeline valued at US$2.7 billion and around 1 GW of potential renewable power generation capacity.
APRA is a critical initiative for African countries in their efforts to accelerate the use of renewables to meet SDG 7. Sierra Leone is proud to host the 2025 APRA Summit following the signing of a 2.2 billion Mission 300 Compact where we aim to increase the share of renewables from 46 percent to 52 percent, said Hon. Dr Kandeh Yumkella, Energy Sector Lead, Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF) and Energy Governance Coordination Group (EGCG).
Post-Forum facilitation will focus on advancing identified projects, strengthening investment readiness, and supporting implementation efforts across APRA countries.
