9 July 2015
SE4All West African Energy Leaders Group Launched
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West Africa has launched its own sub-group of the African Energy Leaders Group (AELG), which was formed to support the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) initiative.

West Africa is the first region to create a branch of the AELG, which is focused on bringing political and business leaders together to break down barriers to private investment in sustainable energy access projects.

SE4ALL30 June 2015: West Africa has launched its own sub-group of the African Energy Leaders Group (AELG), which was formed to support the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) initiative. West Africa is the first region to create a branch of the AELG, which is focused on bringing political and business leaders together to break down barriers to private investment in sustainable energy access projects.

The launch took place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on 30 June 2015, in the presence of Côte d’Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara, the Prime Ministers of Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Mali, Niger and Togo, the Vice-President of Nigeria, Nigerian entrepreneur Tony Elumelu, and Senegalese-American musician and social entrepreneur Akon, in addition to the former presidents of Ghana and Nigeria.

Ivorian Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan spoke on behalf of President Ouattara, saying that “the emphasis [of the West African Energy Leaders Group] will be on practical, appropriate measures that will contribute to the creation of a favorable environment for investment,” and on bringing together public and private actors to mobilize finance and accelerate implementation of suitable projects.

According to SE4All, West Africa has the highest energy poverty on the continent. The African Development Bank (AfDB), which serves as the AELG secretariat, estimates that, to meet the whole continent’s energy needs by 2040, a tenfold increase in private investment is needed. [SE4All Press Release] [IISD RS Story on AELG]