At a time when developing renewable energy has become a priority for sustainable development, how can Africa best take advantage of the myriad international financing options that are available to develop sustainable energy systems that support the continent’s economic transformation? Renewable energy, in its many forms and with a multitude of financing options, is here to stay, as it will play a pivotal role in efforts to implement both the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. As a clean and much-needed alternative source of energy, it can be instrumental in supporting enhanced energy access in Africa and driving the continent’s sustainable development agenda. For these grand objectives to materialise, however, there is a need for African countries to design the right strategies in order to secure the necessary funding for the deployment of renewable energy solutions. Renewable energy and the Sustainable Development Goals A real life story from a community in Zambia is a good way to set the stage for our discussion. Mutemwa Community in Zambia’s Sesheke District received financial support to implement a water reticulation project from the World Bank’s Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience in 2014. The proposal submitted was a...
Written by David Chama Kaluba