A year-long international campaign led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has secured €15.5 billion to accelerate Africa’s clean energy transition. The funding will support new renewable energy projects across the continent and expand electricity access for millions of people who currently lack reliable power.

The European Union led the effort, contributing over €15.1 billion. This includes more than €10 billion pledged by President von der Leyen on behalf of Team Europe, alongside major bilateral contributions from Member States, development finance institutions, and European financial institutions.

Organised with Global Citizen and supported by the International Energy Agency, the campaign aimed to mobilise public and private investment for clean energy, increase electricity access, and support sustainable economic growth and low-carbon industrialisation in Africa. It also contributes to the global transition away from fossil fuels.

President von der Leyen said: “The world has stepped up for Africa. This investment is a surge of opportunity: thriving markets, new jobs, and reliable, clean energy that meets the needs of partners across the globe President Ramaphosa and I both look forward to a clean-energy future for the continent. A future led by Africa, with strong support from its friend and partner, Europe."

Team Europe’s package includes new Global Gateway projects co-financed by Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, as well as investments from the European Investment Bank (€2.1 billion) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (€740 million). Additional bilateral contributions from Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, and Ireland amount to more than €5 billion.

Beyond Europe, the African Development Bank committed at least 20% of the African Development Fund’s 17th replenishment to renewable energy, while Norway pledged around €53 million for 2026–2028.

In total, the campaign’s commitments will help generate 26.8 GW of renewable energy and provide renewable electricity to 17.5 million households currently without reliable access. Of the €10 billion pledged by President von der Leyen, €3.1 billion had been announced earlier in 2025, while €7 billion was confirmed at the final pledging event in Johannesburg on 21 November.

The “Scaling up Renewables in Africa” campaign was launched in November 2024 in Rio de Janeiro by President von der Leyen and President Ramaphosa. Its goal was to secure new policy and financial commitments from governments, financial institutions, the private sector, and philanthropies, while helping build global momentum toward the COP28 targets of tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency.

With 600 million people in Africa still lacking electricity and the population expected to double by 2050, expanding affordable, sustainable energy is essential. Africa holds 60% of the world’s best solar resources but receives only 2% of global energy investment due to high capital costs and structural barriers.

Through the Global Gateway strategy and the Africa-Europe Green Energy Initiative, the EU is investing in renewable energy generation, transmission infrastructure, and cross-border electricity trade, building long-term partnerships to support Africa’s clean energy future.

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