19 April 2013: The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced that it will host the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) Initiative’s Africa Hub to coordinate and facilitate the development and implementation of the Initiative on the continent.

AfDB President and SE4All Advisory Board member, Donald Kaberuka, made the announcement at the First SE4All Advisory Board meeting, held in Washington, DC, on 19 April 2013.

Addressing fellow Board members, Kaberuka underscored the importance of the Initiative in the region, saying, “In order to maintain the momentum in Africa, we need now to shift decisively to concrete actions on the ground, we need to communicate clearly the Initiative’s value proposition and quickly demonstrate with concrete success stories that SE4All is not just another initiative, but truly a game changer for Africa.” The Initiative currently counts 41 African countries as members.

The AfDB will host the Hub in cooperation with the African Union Commission and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Planning and Coordination Agency, while building on the Bank’s existing work, such as the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA). The UN Development Programme (UNDP) is to provide additional support.

The official launch of the Hub will take place at the AfDB Annual Meetings in Marrakesh, Morocco, on 31 May 2013. [AfDB Press Release] [IISD RS story on the First SE4All Advisory Board Meeting]