Agenda, Additional Speakers Announced for ECOWAS 2019 Sustainable Energy Summit in Accra

10/07/2019

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) will be hosting its third annual ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF) on 22-24 October in Accra, Ghana. This year’s venue will be the Kempinski Hotel, Gold Coast City.

The event brings together West Africa’s top elected officials, policymakers, industry thought leaders and other individuals committed to moving forward the region’s sustainable energy agenda. Geared toward facilitating business deals and promoting renewed investment in the area, ESEF2019 aims to impact sustainable change and empower regional leaders.

This year’s forum is co-organized by the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE), the 130 Member, off-grid industry association delivering innovative clean energy solutions throughout Africa and GET.invest, a European programme that mobilises renewable energy investments.

Highlights from this year’s agenda include:

  • Achieving enabling environment for scaling-up sustainable energy solutions in the West African region;
  • Capitalizing on opportunities for both grid-connected and off-grid sectors;
  • Promoting technological innovations in sustainable energy;
  • Enhancing regional cooperation and trans-border power trade renewable sources;
  • Ways to enhance knowledge-sharing between regional partners and beyond the region.
  • Showcasing innovation through a dedicated exhibition for manufacturers, developers, financial institutions and other companies to showcase their products and services.
  • New this year: a B2B matchmaking session geared toward partnership building and fund mobilization organized by GET.invest and ARE.

Additionally, we are pleased to confirm the participation of the following high-level delegates for ESEF 2019:

  • Mr. Mahama Kappiah, ECREEE Executive Director
  • Dr. Bachir Ismael Ouedraogo, Minister of Energy, Burkina Faso
  • Alhaji Kanja Sesay, Minister of Energy of Sierra Leone
  • Sambou Wague, Minister of Energy and Water, Mali
  • H.R.H Princess Abze Djigma, Special Envoy of the President of Burkina Faso for SDGs
  • Abdoul Fall, President of the Renewable Energy Private Sector Cooperative, Senegal

Directors in charge of energy in the 15 ECOWAS and high-level delegates from utilities from the 15 ECOWAS members states will participate in the discussions, as well as, key partners such as USAID, World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, West African Development Bank, GIZ, UNIDO, IRENA and many more.

With the support of ECREEE and its sister agencies West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) and the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Authority (ERERA), the region has already made tremendous strides toward putting in place the policy and regulatory framework for a viable sustainable energy market. As such, translating this enabling environment into concrete projects powering inclusive energy access and growth is one of the key objectives of ESEF2019.

As a true testament to ESEF’s growing success and dedication to collaborative, solution-oriented pathways, this year’s event is supported by The Austrian Development Cooperation (ADA); The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID); UNIDO; GIZ; The World Bank Group; The European Union; The Global Environment Facility (GEF); Sustainable Energy for All; GET.invest; and ARE.

For more information on the ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum 2019, please visit: esef2019.org.

For more information regarding sponsorships and exhibitions, please contact: sponsor@esef2019.org

For press inquiries, please contact Lisa Johnson at press@ecreee.org

 Follow us on social media to join the conversation: @2019esef; hashtag: #esef2019


About ECOWAS Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

ECOWAS Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) was established by the ECOWAS Commission in 2008 during the 61st Session of ECOWAS Council of Ministers. ECREEE is a specialized ECOWAS agency based in Praia, Cabo Verde, with a public mandate to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency markets. It acts as an independent body but within the legal, administrative and financial framework of ECOWAS rules and regulations. The overall mandate of ECREEE is to contribute to the sustainable economic, social and environmental development of West Africa by improving access to modern, reliable and affordable energy services, energy security and reduction of energy related externalities (GHG, local pollution). Since its inception, ECREEE has been working diligently to create favorable conditions for regional RE & EE markets by supporting activities directed to mitigate existing technology, financial, economic, business, legal, policy, institutional, knowledge and capacity related barriers.

About GET.invest

GET.invest is a European programme that mobilises private sector investments in decentralised renewable energy projects. Supported by the European Union, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Austria, it builds a bridge between business and project developers, financiers and regulators. Find out more at https://www.get-invest.eu/

About The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE)

ARE is an international business association that promotes a sustainable decentralised renewable energy industry for the 21st century, activating markets for affordable energy services, and creating local jobs and inclusive economies. We enable improved energy access through business development support for more than 130 Members along the whole value chain for off-grid technologies.

Press Contact:

Lisa Johnson, ECREEE

press@ecreee.org