The African Development Bank Group’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) has successfully secured new capital commitments totaling nearly €50 million from the governments of Germany and Italy. These commitments were formally announced at the Africa Pavilion during a side event held at COP30.
The German government demonstrated a robust commitment to Africa’s clean energy transition by pledging a total of €44 million, which is strategically split into two key areas:
- Universal Energy Access (€14 Million):
- A commitment of €14 million will be directed toward SEFA’s foundational goal of achieving universal energy access across the continent. This funding supports projects focused on bringing sustainable and reliable power to underserved populations.
- Green Hydrogen Programme (€30 Million):
- The largest portion, €30 million, is dedicated to financing SEFA’s new green hydrogen programme.
The Government of Italy also announced a new, dedicated contribution of €5 million to the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA). This financing bolsters SEFA’s overall ability to fund its diverse pipeline of sustainable energy projects across its mandated regions.
The commitments, totaling close to €50 million, are significant because they:
- Reinforce SEFA’s Mandate: Provide substantial financial backing to SEFA, a special fund designed to catalyze private sector investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
- Highlight Global Partnership: Demonstrate continued support from key international partners (Germany and Italy) for the African Development Bank Group’s energy initiatives.
- Validate Green Hydrogen: The substantial commitment to green hydrogen signals growing international recognition of Africa’s potential to become a global hub for producing this future clean fuel source.
