SDG 7 in Africa: Funding Africa’s Green Transition – The Borgen Project

Progress on Sustainable Development Goal 7 in Africa

Report on Efforts to Ensure Access to Affordable, Reliable, Sustainable, and Modern Energy

Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7), which aims to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy, faces significant challenges to its realization by the 2030 deadline. However, substantial progress is being observed in Africa, where targeted initiatives are leveraging the continent’s vast renewable resources to overcome reliance on unsustainable fossil fuels and advance multiple SDGs.

Africa’s Renewable Energy Landscape and its Connection to SDGs

Untapped Potential and Investment Gaps

Africa possesses immense potential for renewable energy generation, which is critical for achieving SDG 7 and fostering broader sustainable development. Key statistics include:

• The continent is home to 60% of the world’s premier solar energy resources.
• Significant, largely untapped reserves of geothermal, hydropower, and wind energy exist across the continent.

Despite this potential, a critical investment gap persists, with Africa attracting only 2% of global renewable energy investment. This shortfall directly impedes progress, leaving 600 million people without reliable electricity access, thereby hindering advancements in other key areas such as SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Future Energy Demands and the Imperative for a Green Transition

Projections indicate that Africa’s energy demand could increase eightfold by 2050. Meeting this demand through a transition to renewable energy is imperative for achieving sustainable development. This green transition directly supports the targets of SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by providing a cost-effective and environmentally sound pathway for economic growth.

International Collaboration to Accelerate SDG 7

The “Scaling up Renewables in Africa” Campaign

To address the investment deficit and accelerate the green transition, the European Commission, in partnership with Global Citizen and the Republic of South Africa, launched the “Scaling up Renewables in Africa” campaign. This initiative is founded on the COP28 agreement to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030, a direct accelerator for SDG 7. The campaign’s primary objective is to mobilize financial commitments from public and private sectors to catalyze renewable energy projects across Africa.

Financial Commitments and Project Implementation

The European Commission has announced significant financial packages totaling over €1.16 billion (€545 million followed by an additional €618 million) to support the campaign’s goals. This funding is allocated to projects designed to expand electricity access, modernize energy infrastructure, and increase the share of renewables in the energy mix, directly contributing to the achievement of SDG 7. Key projects include:

• Côte d’Ivoire: €359.4 million for the construction of an efficient regional energy distribution network, supporting SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).
• Cameroon: €59.1 million for rural electrification, aiming to benefit over 2.5 million people and advance SDG 7.1 (universal access to electricity).
• Somalia: €45.5 million to enhance the accessibility and affordability of renewable energy, promoting SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• Lesotho: Funding for the Renewable Lesotho program to develop national hydro and wind energy potential, in line with SDG 7.2 (increasing the share of renewable energy).
• Ghana: Development of a solar farm to increase clean energy generation.
• Madagascar: Installation of mini-grids in rural areas to provide decentralized energy access.

Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts Aligned with the 2030 Agenda

Alleviating Poverty and Fostering Economic Growth

Expanding access to electricity is intrinsically linked to poverty alleviation (SDG 1). The provision of reliable and modern energy empowers rural households and stimulates economic activity through several mechanisms:

1. Improved lighting, heating, and cooking methods enhance health and well-being (SDG 3).
2. Access to modern communication and financial services is enabled.
3. Time previously spent on manual tasks is freed up for education (SDG 4) and economic productivity (SDG 8), breaking the cycle of poverty.

Promoting Sustainable Development and Climate Action

The focus on renewable energy ensures that development is sustainable and does not compromise future environmental health. By prioritizing green electrification, the “Scaling up Renewables in Africa” campaign provides a solution that addresses the dual objectives of poverty alleviation and environmental conservation. This approach mitigates the threat that fossil fuel dependency poses to Africa’s biodiversity and supports global climate goals as outlined in SDG 13.

Conclusion: Sustained Momentum for SDG 7 in Africa

The substantial financial pledges from the European Commission and its partners signify a robust global commitment to achieving SDG 7 in Africa. This sustained investment and collaborative action are creating positive momentum for the continent’s green transition. These efforts not only accelerate progress toward ensuring clean and affordable energy for all but also contribute significantly to the broader 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article is centered around SDG 7, explicitly mentioning it multiple times. The core theme is ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all in Africa by transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
2. SDG 1: No Poverty
   • The article directly links energy access to poverty alleviation. It states that increasing access to electricity helps rural households “escape the vicious cycle of poverty” by enabling more time for economic productivity and education, leading to higher earnings.
3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • The article discusses significant investments aimed at developing and upgrading energy infrastructure. This includes projects to “update aging energy infrastructure,” construct “a more efficient regional energy distribution network,” and install “mini grids in Madagascar’s rural interior.”
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The focus on a “transition away from fossil fuels to renewables” is a key climate action strategy. The article highlights that this green transition helps countries modernize without “jeopardizing their future environmental health” and addresses the “existential threat to the biodiversity of African nations” posed by fossil fuels. The campaign is based on the COP28 target to triple green energy capacity.
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The entire initiative described, the “Scaling up Renewables in Africa” campaign, is a multi-stakeholder partnership. It involves collaboration between the “European Commission, in collaboration with advocacy organization Global Citizen and the Republic of South Africa” and aims to accumulate finance from public, private, banking, and philanthropic sectors.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 7.1: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.
   • The article highlights the problem that “600 million people on the continent still live without a reliable source of electricity.” Projects funded by the European Commission, such as the one in Cameroon to “electrify rural areas, impacting more than 2.5 million people,” directly address this target.
2. Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • The article discusses Africa’s vast potential for renewable energy, noting it has “60% of the planet’s best solar energy resources.” The “Scaling up Renewables in Africa” campaign is founded on the COP28 goal to “triple the planet’s capacity for green energy by 2030,” and funding is allocated to projects like a “solar farm in Ghana” and the “Renewable Lesotho program.”
3. Target 7.a: By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology… and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.
   • This target is demonstrated by the European Commission’s funding packages (€545 million and a further €618 million) and the campaign’s goal to accumulate “finance from the public and private sectors, as well as from global banks and philanthropists” to accelerate Africa’s green transition.
4. Target 1.4: By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have access to basic services…
   • The article connects access to electricity, a basic service, with escaping poverty. It explains that electricity provides “more efficient lighting, heating, cooking, communication and even financing,” which are crucial for improving livelihoods and economic standing.
5. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
   • The investment of “€359.4 million” for a “more efficient regional energy distribution network in Côte d’Ivoire” and the installation of “mini grids in Madagascar’s rural interior” are direct actions toward developing sustainable and reliable energy infrastructure.
6. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.
   • The campaign itself is a prime example of this target, being a collaboration between a governmental body (European Commission), a civil society organization (Global Citizen), and a national government (Republic of South Africa).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Target 7.1: Proportion of population with access to electricity.
   • The article provides baseline and impact data that can be used for this indicator. It states that “600 million people on the continent still live without a reliable source of electricity” and that a project in Cameroon will impact “more than 2.5 million people” by electrifying rural areas.
2. Indicator for Target 7.a: International financial flows to developing countries in support of clean energy.
   • The article explicitly quantifies these financial flows. It mentions a funding package from the European Commission that “totaled €545 million” and a subsequent pledge of “a further €618 million” to fund projects across the continent.
3. Indicator for Target 7.2: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption.
   • While not providing a current percentage, the article implies progress by mentioning Africa’s potential (“60% of the planet’s best solar energy resources”) and the funding of specific renewable projects like a “solar farm in Ghana” and hydro/wind energy in Lesotho, which would increase this share.
4. Indicator for Target 9.1: Investment in infrastructure.
   • The article provides specific financial figures for infrastructure investment, such as the “€359.4 million” allocated for a regional energy distribution network in Côte d’Ivoire.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: borgenproject.org