An African-Led Renewable Energy Partnership That Benefits Everyone

The global trajectory of the energy landscape is undoubtedly heading towards a renewables-based energy system. With the historic decision to triple renewable power by 2030 at COP28, this imminent shift is now accelerating at an unprecedented pace.

By targeting a five-fold increase in Africa’s renewable energy capacity by 2030, the Nairobi Declaration, adopted at the inaugural Africa Climate Summit last year, sent a clear signal to the world: Africa is committed to assume a pivotal role in the global transition to renewable energy.

This vision for Africa is firmly rooted in the vast human and natural resources of the world’s youngest continent. It also presents a pathway for African nations to pursue economic development and environmental sustainability in tandem, without compromise.

Yet, as the renewable energy sector accelerates its rapid growth, Africa is still being left behind. In fact, only 2% of global investments in renewable energy in the last two decades were made in the continent.

With the Italian G7 Presidency clearly underscoring that African development is a priority for the group, a pivotal opportunity arises for the Global North to support Africa’s clean energy agenda, which sits at the nexus of addressing the continent’s pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges.

The Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA), launched by President Ruto of Kenya ahead of COP28, aims to bring this ambitious vision to life.

As an international alliance led by African countries, APRA offers a unique collaborative platform tailored to African needs and capabilities. It also bridges the cooperation gap between the global north and south, a critical priority for tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

The partnership promotes a holistic approach that mobilises action and commitments from public and private entities and coordinates international efforts for meaningful, systemic change on the continent. At present, Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe, with Denmark, Germany, the UAE, and the US as partner countries; the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund as supporting partners; and IRENA fulfilling the secretariat role.

Plans are underway for APRA to broaden its reach, with its membership expected to expand in the coming months and years, to engage more countries with high ambition on renewable energy and green industrialisation in Africa.

The G7's role can be transformative. By joining APRA and endorsing its visionary approach, G7 members can amplify the impact of this partnership and promote its alignment with G7 priorities. This partnership can also offer a regular dialogue mechanism between G7 and APRA members to exchange ideas and expand cooperation.

Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa face some of the highest costs of finance in the world, demonstrating the need for further international collaboration including engagement of multilateral development banks and an increased role for public finance. Through APRA, G7 members can help create an investment-friendly environment in Africa, bolstering confidence among private companies and financial institutions looking to collaborate with APRA countries.

APRA also leverages African resources in support of global supply chain diversification efforts in a way that aligns with African interests. This means an approach that goes beyond resource extraction, focusing instead on promoting manufacturing within the continent to spur economic growth and create jobs, aligning with Africa’s developmental objectives.

As the global energy transition accelerates globally, the G7's partnership with APRA presents a pivotal opportunity to ensure that Africa is not sidelined. By leveraging Africa's vast potential to benefit from and contribute to the global energy transition, G7 members have a unique opportunity to reimagine international cooperation through a pragmatic lens rooted in mutualism and fairness.

The original version, as published by the G7 Research Group and the Global Governance Project, is available here.

The 1st APRA Investment Forum will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, on October 14th, 2024. See more information and a detailed agenda.