SEforALL and African Energy Efficiency Alliance Join Forces to Champion Efficiency in Africa

Sustainable Energy for All is proud to announce that it is joining the Africa Energy Efficiency Alliance (AEEA), further integrating AEEA into the Mission Efficiency global ecosystem. This collaboration was formally announced at the Africa Climate Summit 2 on 9th September 2025, marking an important milestone in efforts to double energy efficiency progress, aligned with the COP28 Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge.

“Joining the Africa Energy Efficiency Alliance is an opportunity to work hand in hand with the African Union to scale energy efficiency solutions that power growth and resilience across the continent.” - Elizabeth Wangeci Chege, SEforALL

AEEA was launched at COP29 by the African Energy Commission (AFREC), serving as the regional platform to advance energy efficiency programs in Africa. Africa’s energy demand is projected to double by 2040, and energy efficiency represents not just a climate solution but a foundation of resilient and green development that can maximize available generation capacity, reduce grid strain, lower energy costs, and accelerate universal electricity access. 

The launch builds on the Africa Energy Efficiency Strategy and Action Plan (AfEES), which targets a 50% increase in energy productivity by 2050 and 70% by 2063. By harmonizing policies, supporting national strategies, and transforming markets for efficient appliances and equipment alone, Africa could save up to 175 TWh of electricity by 2040—the equivalent of avoiding more than 80 new 500 MW power plants—while delivering over USD 175 billion in benefits to African consumers by 2030.

“AFREC is excited to welcome Sustainable Energy for All, to the African Energy Efficiency Alliance.SEforALL, has extensive experience in building strong partnerships, and will significantly contribute to the Alliance’s mission of positioning energy efficiency at the forefront of Africa’s energy development.” - Yagouba Traore, AFREC

Through this collaboration, SEforALL will operationalize the Elevate. Support. Invest. approach of Mission Efficiency, while positioning the region as an energy efficiency champion that demonstrates how African solutions can shape and accelerate a just and equitable energy transition worldwide.

Africa holds enormous potential, but also faces challenges that make action on energy efficiency urgent. In some countries, it takes more than 10 megajoules of energy to produce just one US dollar of GDP—over three times the level in Latin America and the Caribbean. At the same time, millions of people still lack access to electricity and clean cooking. This means Africa must maximize the value of every unit of energy to drive inclusive growth. The picture across the Africa Union is diverse: Central Africa uses relatively little total energy, yet it remains highly energy intensive – meaning it takes a lot of energy to generate each unit of economic output. In contrast, Northern Africa has the highest overall energy supply of the continent, but its energy intensity is still above the global average in 2022. These contrasts show why regional approaches matter and why sharing solutions across borders can help turn energy efficiency into a real driver of jobs, opportunity, and resilience.