Italy has made a new commitment of €5 million to Africa’s sustainable energy future through the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) Special Fund.
A news report from African Press Organisation (APO) Group circulated on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB) quoted the Italian Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy Security, Vannia Gava, as announcing the new contribution on Monday during a side event at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The minister said: “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.”
The minister maintained that the commitment underscored Italy’s continued dedication to fostering sustainable energy development in Africa.
She clarified: “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 and GSE co-organised the event, titled “Gearing up Africa’s energy transition by conducive policy and legislative frameworks.”
The event focused on the necessity of private sector investments to expedite the sustainable transformation of Africa’s electricity sectors and also highlighted the critical role of technical assistance programmes in achieving these goals.
Commenting on the funding support by the Italian Government, AfDB’s Director of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Department, Dr. Daniel Schroth, enthused: “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”, the development finance expert added.
Italy’s contribution aligns with the broader goals of COP28, particularly the objective of tripling the deployment of renewable energy.
