VIENNA, 19 September 2022 – On the margins of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA III) will organize a high-level event, “Accelerating energy access and green transition for Africa’s inclusive and sustainable industrialization”.

The hybrid event, which will take place at the African Union’s office in New York on 23 September 2022, will bring together high-level dignitaries and stakeholders from African states as well as private sector representatives to discuss improving energy access in the continent.

Africa has a rich renewable energy (RE) potential, with almost unlimited solar and hydropower, wind, and geothermal energy sources. Furthermore, Africa has 13 per cent of the world’s natural gas and 7 per cent of the world’s oil resources and reserves of critical metals, which are essential for the development of renewable energy generation systems.

However, more than 970 million people on the continent do not have access to clean cooking and, despite recent progress, 600 million Africans still do not have access to electricity – a number that is projected to rise to 660 million by 2030.

In this context, the event will discuss the potential of green energy to address energy challenges in Africa and will explore opportunities to build partnerships for green energy solutions through investments and technology transfers, and the promotion of local manufacturing capacities for green energy systems. The event will also seek to rally additional support, including generating innovative public-private partnership from the international community while providing a platform for stakeholders to discuss issues related to green transition, including innovative RE business models, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) usage, and energy efficiency.

The event is expected to yield recommendations for key initiatives to advance Africa’s Low-carbon and RE generation and distribution (mini-grids), with a focus on SMEs and industry and the mobilization of partnerships and resources.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in cooperation with the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA), the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), and the AfroChampions Initiative are jointly organizing this event. .

On 25 July 2016, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/70/293, proclaiming 2016-2025 as the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA III). UNIDO was tasked with leading the implementation of the Decade, in collaboration with a range of partners. The vision of IDDA III is to firmly anchor Africa on a path towards inclusive and sustainable industrial development. IDDA III promotes and fosters innovative public-private partnerships.

For more information, please contact:

Victor Djemba

Chief, UNIDO Africa division

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Matilda Muweme

Senior Programme Officer, IDDA III Secretariat, UNIDO Africa Division

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