Clean Energy Transitions in the greater Horn of Africa Regional Dialogue

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is pleased to organise the Clean Energy Transitions in the greater Horn of Africa Regional Dialogue conference, which will take place on Friday, 7 October 2022 between 13:00 – 16:00 (CET).

This conference, organised with the support of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development of Uganda, aims to discuss how best to advance clean energy transitions in the greater Horn of Africa countries: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda. The event will highlight best practices, policy recommendations, and foster regional collaboration towards clean energy transitions. It will take stock of the region’s energy landscape, areas of progress and best practices on its clean energy developments in order to better inform and guide country policymakers when defining their transition pathways.

High-level country representatives, regional and international energy sector leaders, experts and other stakeholders will gather for an inter-regional and multi-stakeholder dialogue.

The event will include the launch of an IEA report on Clean Energy Transitions in the greater Horn of Africa, whose key findings will be presented providing a background for discussion.

The greater Horn of Africa represents nearly a quarter of sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP and is home to some of the fastest growing economies, but also many areas that face ongoing conflict and instability. All countries across the region continue to face distinct socioeconomic challenges, and averages mask large disparities: Kenya has one of the highest access rates in sub-Saharan Africa, while other countries lack centralised grid infrastructure altogether. The region has abundant untapped clean energy and natural resource potential that can transform the lives of their populations.

Reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy supplies can be a catalyst for economic development and socioeconomic wellbeing. As such, clean energy transition pathways can play a central role in improving livelihoods, supporting productive uses for local community development, mitigating climate change impacts, creating jobs for young populations, and empowering women and girls.

The IEA is currently leading analytical work on Clean Energy Transitions in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda. The aim is to take stock of the energy landscape in these countries including developments and challenges; to propose pathways for future energy systems in the region based on scenarios; and to identify best practices and lessons learned on several energy topics to accelerate clean energy transitions in the region.

This IEA initiative is a component of the Agency’s increasing focus and work on Africa. By providing a platform for a regional exchange of views on its analysis and policy recommendations, the IEA aims to help improve coordination among energy initiatives and key stakeholders, as well as harness the expertise and networks of local resources in the greater Horn of Africa region. It also seeks to support the development and implementation of high-impact policies that will stimulate investment in all relevant areas of clean energy. Throughout the event, raising high-level awareness on how best to ensure progress towards successful clean energy transitions and achieving SDG 7 will be a priority.

This project is part of a 3-year programme on Clean Energy Transitions in Africa funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and supported through the IEA Clean Energy Transitions Programme (CETP). This initiative on the greater Horn of Africa follows reports and dialogue events focused on the North African region in 2020, and on the Sahel in 2021.