The African Development Bank Group and the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) will host a high-level side event at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, on November 14, 2025. Titled “Mobilising Commercial Capital for Renewable Energy and Energy Access in Africa,” the session will take place at the Africa Pavilion and online, focusing on accelerating private investment in Africa’s renewable energy and energy access sectors.
The event aims to address one of COP30’s central themes — scaling up climate finance mobilisation. Discussions will explore how to attract greater private sector participation, promote technology transfer, and strengthen capacity building to ensure equitable access to clean energy for all. Participants will include representatives from African governments, SEFA donor countries, international development partners, and private sector leaders, who will share insights on overcoming investment barriers and applying innovative financing models to advance Africa’s clean energy transition.
Key highlights of the session will include the announcement of new commitments from SEFA partners such as Germany and Italy, reaffirming international support for Africa’s energy goals. The event will also feature SEFA’s contribution to Mission 300, a flagship initiative led by the African Development Bank Group, the World Bank Group, and other partners that aims to deliver electricity to 300 million people in Africa by 2030. SEFA’s catalytic role in mobilising blended finance to support this mission will be a central focus of the discussion.
Speakers will explore strategies to increase commercial capital flows into renewable energy projects, with particular emphasis on Africa’s emerging green hydrogen sector. The session will highlight SEFA’s newly launched Green Hydrogen Programme, which seeks to help African nations harness hydrogen’s transformative potential for sustainable industrial development.
The event will also showcase landmark achievements in renewable energy financing, such as the Obelisk project in Egypt — a large-scale hybrid solar and battery storage facility cofinanced by the African Development Bank Group, including SEFA support. The project demonstrates how innovative finance structures can de-risk private investment and accelerate Africa’s clean energy transition.
By fostering dialogue among governments, development finance institutions, private investors, and civil society, the event aims to strengthen partnerships and chart a clear path for mobilising commercial capital to power Africa’s sustainable energy future. Media representatives are invited to attend the session in person at COP30’s Blue Zone or participate online.
