Transforming Energy Access Forum 2024
On March 13, 2024, the UK Government’s FCDO will host a one-day Forum in Kigali, dedicated to advancing an inclusive clean energy transition in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and the Indo-Pacific region. The event aims to address the challenges outlined in the UN’s SDG midpoint review which emphasised the need for accelerated progress in achieving SDG7.
Bringing together clean energy innovators and key decision-makers from across government, policy and investment, the Forum seeks to enhance collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Agenda so far
The Forum will be opened by the British High Commissioner to Rwanda, Omar Daair ahead of remarks from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office.
We also welcome the participation of Rwanda’s former Minister of State for Infrastructure, Dr Albert Butare who will host a panel discussion including Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), CEO, Victoria Sabula, and Head of the University of Rwanda’s African Centre of Excellence in Energy for Sustainable Development (ACEESD), Emmanuel Ufiteyezu.
Understanding the role and need for innovative financing mechanisms, representatives from Acumen and Shell Foundation will participate in a thought-provoking panel discussion.
Moving the conversation beyond finance, the transitioning to cleaner genset alternatives session brings together sector experts from Innovate UK (IUK) and Access to Energy Institute (A2EI) to share insights from ongoing research with Open Capital and case studies on generator use cases in Nigeria.
Amplifying the voice of underserved and off-grid communities the Customer and Market Insights Off-Grid Energy session will feature insights from recent reports and a report launch, led by 60 Decibels, Mini-Grid Partnerships, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), and others.
More speakers to be announced shortly.
Through keynotes, panels and thematic sessions, the agenda will focus on sharing tangible insights from across the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform and programmes supported via the Ayrton Fund to foster informed decision-making. The Forum will also feature an innovation marketplace for a selection of exhibitors.
Topics to be explored include energy storage, mini-grid market enablement, innovative finance mechanisms, sustainable cooling, and ensuring inclusivity in clean energy innovation. The Forum will also dive into key enablers for progress, such as scaling innovations, capacity building, unlocking finance, and collaborating with local partners.
The Forum will close with a networking drinks reception.
Delegates are also encouraged to register for optional site visits on 14 March to get first-hand access to projects in Rwanda supported via TEA.
To learn more and register, click here.
