During an in-conversation discussion during this year’s Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2024 forum in Paris on May 15 Partner and Co-Investment Director at Spark+ Africa Fund Peter George and Senior Research Analyst at Energy Intelligence Amena Bakr explored how investments in innovative technologies for clean cooking on the African continent are poised to transform communities across the continent.

“From a market opportunity standpoint, $20-40 billion a year is spent in African markets on cooking fuel, which is a huge market for the LPG industry, for electrification to enable the uptake of electric cooking stoves and fertilizer that can increase crop yields for farmers,” George stated, adding, “There are all these different ways to address this energy access gap and a lot of market opportunities.”

It was noted during the exclusive one-on-one conversation that clean cooking is poised to save at least 200 million hectares of forests globally by 2030. Clean cooking will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 1.9 gigatons of CO2 emissions equivalent per year, roughly equal to all emissions from airplanes and ships today.

“Clean cooking is thought to touch on 11 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals,” George said, stating, “If you look at the cost from the standpoint of deforestation and lost productivity, there are all sorts of ways in which you can quantify people lacking access to modern infrastructure. This cost is something like $2.4 trillion – in Africa, the cost is about $800 million.”

According to George, by taking concessional investment from the public sector, local and international companies can leverage private capital from more commercially oriented investors who seek higher-return profiles in Africa’s developing market.

“Affordability is key, especially when it comes to Africa,” stated Bakr.

A partnership between the African Refiners and Distributors Association and the Global LPG Partnership to mobilize $1 billion in funding for clean energy solutions was announced during the IAE 2024 summit’s first day. The aim of the fund will be to make the funds available to promote a sustainable transition to cleaner fuels for cooking.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.

Invest Africa (www.InvestAfrica.com), a leading pan-African trade and investment platform, will convene the 10th annual Africa Debate on 6th June at the Guildhall, London, under the theme of “Africa’s role in a changing global order.” The Africa Debate is London’s leading Africa-focused investment forum.

Headline speakers include Samaila Zubairu, President and Chief Executive Officer, Africa Finance Corporation; Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank Group; The Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP, Deputy Foreign Secretary and Minister of State (Development and Africa), Foreign, Commonwealth&Development Office;  Diana Layfield, Chair, British International Investment; Zeinab Badawi, President of SOAS, University of London; and Idris Elba, Actor, Filmmaker, Musician, Entrepreneur, and Activist; amongst other leaders from government and private enterprise.

Africa Finance Corporation, the leading infrastructure solutions provider in Africa, is Headline Partner for the Forum. Additional partners include Absa, The African Export-Import Bank, Africa HR Solutions, Arise IIP, Brand South Africa, Crown Agents Bank, DLA Piper, Genesis Energy Group, IPT Africa, Moody’s Ratings, Plantations et Huileries du Congo, Standard Chartered and Xcalibur Smart Mapping.  

“In the lead-up to the 10th anniversary of The Africa Debate, I have been reflecting on Africa’s rising prominence on the world stage,” said Chantelé Carrington, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Africa. “Now, more than ever before, Africa is stepping into its own as a global leader, equipped with immense natural capital and a burgeoning population and primed to become a major pole of global economic activity. Join us on 6th June for a day of debates on Africa’s role in a changing global order, and let’s explore how we can collectively advance our trifecta themes for this year’s conference: Trade, Investment, and Leadership on the continent.”

As part of The Africa Debate programme, Invest Africa will host a Morocco Investment Forum on 5th June in partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in the United Kingdom. The Forum will provide a unique platform for the visiting delegation of Moroccan government officials and businesses to brief attendees on key sectors ripe for investment, as well as recent reforms and policies aimed at nurturing an investor-friendly environment.

To attend the 10th edition of The Africa Debate and wider programme register here (http://apo-opa.co/4dJfPoP). Use the discount code AD_20 to receive a 20% discount off the standard ticket price.

The Africa Debate will be on-the-record and open to media.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Invest Africa.

About Invest Africa: 
Invest Africa is a leading pan-African business platform that promotes trade and investment across the continent. With over sixty years of experience, our network is made up of more than 400 multinational corporations, private investors, fund managers, family offices, government bodies, policy makers and entrepreneurs. Together they share our desire to build opportunity across the African continent. As the trusted entry point into Africa, we support and connect business and investment through a unique range of services, from leading business conferences and bespoke trade and investment missions to sector-specific event programmes and consultancy projects. For more information: www.InvestAfrica.com

About The Africa Debate: 
The conference is London’s leading investment summit focused on Africa. Now in its 10th year, this edition will focus on Africa’s role in a changing global order, with speakers discussing and debating the continent’s trade and investment landscape, as well as its leadership position on the international stage. The event will convene global businesses, private and public investment bodies, thought leaders, and policy makers for a series of conversations on Africa’s role in the world. For more information: www.theafricadebate.com

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has this afternoon arrived in Kenya’s capital Nairobi for a State visit at the invitation of President William Ruto. The President’s visit aims at strengthening the longstanding bilateral relations between Uganda and Kenya and exploring new avenues for collaboration and mutual benefits. On arrival, President Museveni was received at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by a delegation from the Kenyan government led by the Hon. Dr. Musalia Mudavadi , the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs. On the Ugandan side, he was welcomed by Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community Affairs among other dignitaries.

President Museveni’s visit signifies the commitment of both leaders to foster regional integration, enhance economic cooperation, and promote stability within the East African region. During his stay, the President will engage in high-level discussions with President Ruto and other Kenyan government officials. The discussions will cover a wide range of topics, including trade and investment, infrastructure development, security cooperation and regional integration. The visit is expected to strengthen the economic ties between Uganda and Kenya, with a focus on removing barriers to trade and fostering an enabling business environment. The leaders will explore opportunities for increased investment and collaboration, aiming to harness the full potential of the East African region.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Republic of Uganda – Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Recognising women the role they deserve in society is one of the priorities of this century: both women and men together have the responsibility to fight for an inclusive society where everyone is granted the same respect, pay and rights.

The Italian Public Service Broadcaster, Rai – Radio Televisione Italiana – partners with the African Union of Broadcasting, AUB to face this challenge with a shared training program for media professionals: an opportunity to deepen knowledge and exchange best practices between colleagues from Europe, Africa, and Asia.

The training course is entitled “Gender Equality – Women Empowerment”.  Participants mainly from the African Media and the civil society will focus on policies and collaborative initiatives adopted by public service broadcasters to affirm the role of women in working contexts, in the audio-visual sector, both on and off screen. Regulatory frameworks, strategies for participative democracy, and best practices will be the subject of in-depth analysis.

The course is structured in four online webinars of ninety minutes each. Participants and specialists will interact during Q&A sessions.

Participants will meet online with more than twenty high level experts from Rai, other public service broadcasters (Spain, Great Britain, Denmark, Georgia, and Australia), and media Organizations such as African Union of broadcasting (AUB), the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU).

“Gender equality is one of the most relevant and urgent milestones of civil society, included among the UN Sustainable Development Goals – says Simona Martorelli, Director of Rai Department of International Relations, and European Affairs – and the promotion of equal opportunities and inclusion is part of Rai’s mission as a public service broadcaster” as well as the AUB’s.

Registration on www.UAR-AUB.org

Grégoire NDJAKA
Director General

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union of Broadcasting (AUB).