In Kenya, the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA) Investment Forum officially started on October 14, 2024, convening ministers, investors, developers, and financial institutions in Nairobi to foster open dialogue, further the development of a robust project pipeline and mobilize large-scale investments to accelerate the energy transition and support the development of green industries within APRA countries.
Under Kenya’s leadership, the Investment Forum marks a significant milestone in implementing the Nairobi Declaration, and the Call for Action to boost the continent’s renewable capacity to 300 GW by 2030, contributing to the COP28 goal to triple global renewable power by the end of the decade.
The partnership with APRA countries including Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe, offers unique opportunities to fulfill obligations, deliver on pledges made before, and support global and local ambitions for climate action.
Backed by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which serves as the APRA secretariat, the partnership is supported by Denmark, Germany, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United States (US), in addition to technical, advocacy, and philanthropic actors including the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
The success of global climate objectives is intrinsically linked to Africa realizing its vast renewable energy potential. APRA sets a new benchmark for international cooperation, ensuring that support from the Global North for Africa’s energy transition fully complements the continent’s own priorities. The partnership’s inaugural investment forum in Nairobi marks a milestone in this alignment, uniting key stakeholders to mobilize finance and turn priorities into tangible outcomes, said Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA.
In addition to high-level panels and technical discussions, the three-day forum will host matchmaking sessions between project developers and financial institutions, along with a project exhibition, to bring global exposure to renewable energy projects from across the continent.
It will also showcase real-world case studies, focusing on both the energy transition and the creation of economic opportunities through industries centred around renewables.
Under President Ruto’s leadership, which championed both the Nairobi Declaration and APRA, Africa’s energy transition is gaining unprecedented momentum. The APRA Investment Forum is a significant milestone, mobilizing critical investments to support Africa’s sustainable development at home while accelerating progress on global climate and energy transition goals, said Hon. J. Opiyo Wandayi, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Petroleum and Energy.
APRA’s membership will expand to engage more countries with high ambitions for renewable energy and green industrialization in Africa and beyond.
APRA’s inaugural forum builds on the momentum of the 2023 Africa Climate Summit and the Africa Leaders Nairobi Declaration, accelerating progress toward Net Zero and unlocking crucial climate finance. By aligning with the efforts of the World Bank, African Development Bank, and partners like GEAPP, the Rockefeller Foundation, and SEforAll, we are committed to connecting 300 million unelectrified Africans to clean, affordable power by 2030—fuelling economic growth, job creation, and climate resilience. APRA serves as a vital platform, uniting investors, governments, and project developers to create an ecosystem that fast-tracks low-carbon electrification across the continent, said Joseph Nganga, VP for Africa at the GEAPP.
