Like other regions of Sub Saharan Africa (SSA), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) faces many challenges as it strives to reduce poverty and improve the socioeconomic well being of its population. One of the key challenges facing economic growth in the region is limited access to modern energy services and growing energy security challenges. The region faces widespread and unsustainable production and use of traditional biomass (firewood and charcoal).

Climate change is causing unprecedented variations in the frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events: floods, droughts and heatwaves. How African countries prepare for and manage these extreme events would be fundamental to the performance of their economies and realisation of their development aspirations as embodied in various national development plans, the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

PIDA is a continent-wide program to develop a vision, policies, strategies and a programme for the development of priority regional and continental infrastructure in transport, energy, trans-boundary water and ICT.  The Program’s Sector Studies, which are to be supported by the requested IPPF Grant, will prepare detailed analysis of strategic options for the development of the continental infrastructure in Transport, Energy, ICT and Trans-boundary Water based on a common vision to emanate from consultative/validation workshops at sector, regional and continental levels.

Since 2014, Power Africa is making a difference across all sectors, from health and education, to gender and agriculture. As of July 31, 2019, 56 of Power Africa’s 124 financially closed projects are up and running and turning more Lights On by producing 3,486 MW of new electricity that transforms businesses, economies, and livelihoods. More than 68 million people in sub-Saharan Africa now have first-time access to electricity thanks to the 14.8 million new home and business connections facilitated by Power Africa support.

ESMAP is a partnership between the World Bank  and 19 partners to help low and middle-income countries reduce poverty and boost growth through sustainable energy solutions. ESMAP’s analytical and advisory services are fully integrated within the World Bank’s country financing and policy dialogue in the energy sector.

By 2050, the urban population in Africa is expected to grow from 400 million to 1.26 billion people. African cities need to respond to these challenges in order to provide a sustainable future for their citizens and keep greenhouse gas emissions low. Therefore, ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy and adapting to the effects of climate change are among the most pressing issues for the African population.

The Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) is a transformative, Africa-owned and Africa-led inclusive effort to accelerate and scale up the harnessing of the continent’s huge renewable energy potential. Under the mandate of the African Union, and endorsed by African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), the Initiative is set to achieve at least 10 GW of new and additional renewable energy generation capacity by 2020, and mobilize the African potential to generate at least 300 GW by 2030.