SEFA Mobilises €50m for Africa’s Clean Energy Transition at COP30
The African Development Bank Group’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) has mobilised almost EUR 50 million in new commitments to accelerate Africa’s clean energy transition and boost the rollout of Mission 300. The pledges, made by Germany and Italy, were announced during a COP30 side event at the Africa Pavilion on 14 November.
Germany committed EUR 14 million towards SEFA’s universal energy access agenda and a further EUR 30 million to support SEFA’s new green hydrogen programme. The investment underscores the growing importance of green hydrogen in Africa’s decarbonisation efforts and its potential to drive industrial transformation. Italy also confirmed a EUR 5 million contribution to the fund for 2025.
Dr Katharina Stasch, Director-General for Climate Policy at Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), said Africa’s green hydrogen potential represents a “win–win” opportunity, offering partner countries jobs, technology transfer, and new energy assets while helping Europe diversify future energy imports.
Italy’s Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security echoed this commitment. Roberto Amerise emphasised Africa’s strategic importance for Italy’s energy and climate priorities, noting that private sector mobilisation will be essential to drive sustainable development across the continent.
Dr Kevin Kariuki, AfDB Vice-President for Power, Energy, Climate Change and Green Growth, described the commitments as a pivotal boost to Mission 300, reinforcing Africa’s drive towards universal energy access.
He said the new funding “will constitute wind in the sails” for accelerating renewable energy deployment.
The session also highlighted the value of blended finance in unlocking private capital for large-scale energy projects. Participants reflected on successes such as Egypt’s Obelisk facility—a 1 GW solar PV plant with a 200 MWh battery storage system co-financed by AfDB and SEFA.
BURN Manufacturing, a leading African clean cooking company and SEFA grant recipient, showcased its innovative, market-driven solutions that are transforming clean cooking access across the region.
Speakers stressed the importance of stable regulatory environments to attract investment for a fair and inclusive energy transition. They also highlighted the need to harness declining renewable energy costs and deploy development finance more efficiently.
The commitments at COP30 reaffirm a collective determination to advance Mission 300 and deliver sustainable, scalable, and human-centred energy solutions across Africa.
