KAMPALA, Uganda — The Energy Access Investment Forum (EAIF) 2025 in Kampala made global headlines this week as major players including the World Bank and European Union announced billions in new commitments to Africa’s renewable energy transition.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, EAIF drew over 500 energy leaders, investors, policymakers, and innovators to Uganda’s capital from April 8–10.
The event, hosted by the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, set a bold tone: Africa’s decentralized renewable energy (DRE) future is no longer a dream—it’s a rising movement.
With over 600 million Africans still without electricity, the urgency was clear. Uganda’s Permanent Secretary for Energy, Irene Bateebe, opened the forum by stressing the importance of converting dialogue into action.
“The ideas shared here must lead to tangible progress,” she said.
That progress may be closer than ever. In a major announcement, the World Bank committed up to $30 billion towards energy access and generation across Africa by 2030.
Meanwhile, the EU’s Mission 300 and broader Global Gateway initiative reaffirmed its €150 billion investment package for Africa through 2027.
EU Ambassador to Uganda, Jan Sadek, called EAIF “a true catalyst for innovation and action,” underscoring Europe’s long-term partnership with Africa’s sustainable development.
Other impactful announcements included:
- $4.5 million from CEI Africa and the EU to expand energy access in refugee settlements.
- The launch of “DRE Impact Stories,” supported by €155 million from EU development finance bodies.
- A groundbreaking gender equality report in renewables by ARE and Schneider Electric.
- A collaborative ESG guidance initiative by the African Development Bank (AfDB), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and ARE.
- New research on productive energy use in Benin, Cameroon, and Madagascar, published by ARE and France’s ADEME.
- A new MoU between ARE and GSMA to boost commercial and industrial DRE adoption through mobile and digital technology.
The exhibition floor buzzed with over 50 global innovators showcasing AI-powered mini-grids, advanced battery storage, and off-grid solar solutions.
Delegations from India, Madagascar, and Lesotho added a diplomatic layer to the event’s international profile.
ARE CEO David Lecoque described the forum as a “unifying voice for decentralized renewable energy,” calling it essential to Africa’s inclusive energy future.
“It’s no longer about isolated solutions. We’re building ecosystems that power communities and economies,” Lecoque added.
As the event closed, a clear message echoed across the venue: EAIF is not just a forum—it’s the launchpad of Africa’s clean energy revolution.
From policy to investment, the momentum is real. And Kampala, once again, proved itself a central stage for global change.
