Conference of the Parties (COP28): Italy announces €5 Million contribution to Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, December 5, 2023/ — Italy has made a new commitment of €5 million to Africa’s sustainable energy future through the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) (https://apo-opa.co/46J7nRR) Special Fund. The Italian Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy Security, Vannia Gava, announced the new contribution on Monday during a side event at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28 (https://apo-opa.co/4a9nonc), in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

“This new contribution of €5 million to the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) Special Fund strengthens the attention that the Italian Government devotes to Africa, a geographical region of priority importance for our country’s energy and climate policies,” Gava said.

She added that the commitment underscores Italy’s continued dedication to fostering sustainable energy development in Africa. “Our long-lasting cooperation with the African Development Bank, launched in 2015 with the contribution to the first cycle of SEFA and the Africa Climate Change Fund (ACCF), is further reinforced by this commitment.”

Res4Africa Foundation (https://Res4Africa.org) and GSE co-organised the event, titled “Gearing up Africa’s energy transition by conducive policy and legislative frameworks.” It focused on the necessity of private sector investments to expedite the sustainable transformation of Africa’s electricity sectors. It also highlighted the critical role of technical assistance programmes in achieving these goals.

Dr. Daniel Schroth, Director of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Department at the African Development Bank, stated, “Italy’s new contribution to SEFA is a powerful statement of its commitment to Africa’s just energy transition. This funding will further bolster SEFA’s efforts to deliver sustainable and reliable energy access across the continent, driving economic growth and enhancing the quality of life for millions. We are deeply grateful for Italy’s continued partnership and shared vision in supporting Africa’s sustainable energy journey.”

Italy’s contribution aligns with the broader goals of COP28, particularly the objective of tripling the deployment of renewable energy.

Contacts:
Media contact:
Communication and External Relations Department
media@afdb.org

Technical contact:
João Duarte Cunha
Manager, Renewable Energy Funds Division, SEFA
sefa@afdb.org

ABOUT SEFA:
SEFA is a multi-donor Special Fund that provides catalytic finance to unlock private sector investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. SEFA offers technical assistance and concessional finance instruments to remove market barriers, build a more robust pipeline of projects and improve the risk-return profile of individual investments. The Fund’s overarching goal is to contribute to universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy services for all in Africa, in line with the New Deal on Energy for Africa (https://apo-opa.co/3Rt4vUM) and Sustainable Development Goal 7, “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”.

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 34 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org