Demand-side Subsidies for Energy Access Webinar
2023-09-12 08:00 - 09:30 (America/New_York) | virtual
Targeting: Designing subsidies to prioritize the most vulnerable
The End User Subsidy Lab (EUSL), a joint initiative among partners ESMAP/Lighting Global, GOGLA, Energising Development (EnDev), and the Clean Cook Alliance (CCA), is a platform for pooling knowledge, technical expertise, and funding for demand-side subsidies (DSS). This webinar series organized by the EUSL will guide us through the key elements of designing demand-side subsidies programmes to facilitate the implementation of overarching energy access strategies. Each webinar will be 75 minutes with the main objective to support in-depth dialogue and discussion around lessons learned, challenges, and ‘how to’.
The first webinar focuses on how to identify people facing an affordability gap in order to effectively target subsidies for them. Key questions to be discussed include: How do we minimize the leakage of subsidies to people that can afford commercial prices? What are the best data sources for targeting DSS? What are the limitations of different targeting approaches? When is it okay to have untargeted subsidies? What are the risks of untargeted subsidies and how can they be mitigated? This webinar, moderated by ESMAP/Lighting Global, will provide an overview of different targeting approaches (economic, geographic, demographic, etc), and will showcase the experience of relevant practitioners. Guest speakers include:

EnDev, discussing experience in Malawi of leveraging the government’s social cash transfer system
Government of Nepal, represented by the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AECP), discussing their decade of experience targeting energy subsidies, and in particular, targeting vulnerable demographics
UC Berkeley, presenting research and application of artificial intelligence (AI) to identify most vulnerable populations in Togo under a social assistance program implemented in partnership between the World Bank and the Government of Togo

Summary of the Renewables 2023 Global Status Report
2023-09-13 12:30 - 14:00 (Europe/Brussels) | virtual
REN21 and the Climate Action Network-International (CAN) are organising a webinar to discuss the findings of the Renewables Global Status Report (GSR) series in the current geopolitical context and the direction of travel needed to achieve the shift to a renewable-based system. They will delve into the political impact of G20 decisions on renewable energy discussions during COP and other policy moments.
The discussion will be led by REN21 Executive Director Rana Adib and moderated by CAN's Senior Climate Science and Global Energy Policy Advisor Stephan Singer. It will be followed by a panel discussion with key speakers (to be announced soon).

Ensuring clean energy transition in Africa with DRE and impact on SDG7
2023-09-14 14:00 - 15:30 (Europe/Brussels) | virtual
Decentralised renewable energy (DRE) as a solution has been at the forefront of this PWCET series whereby ARE and GBE strongly advocate for the application and implementation of DRE technologies in order to bring access to power as well as enhance the existing grid in sub-Saharan Africa.
This ambition is on track to achieve a clean energy transition with a community-centric approach where the local citizens take interest and part in their energy demand and supply infrastructures.
For the final webinar of their renowned PWCET series, ARE and GBE will engage the DRE sector experts to discuss the status of SDG 7 today and how it is contributing to the overall energy transition, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

HSFG plenary
2023-09-14 15:00 - 16:30 (Africa/Johannesburg) | virtual
Plenary meeting of the Household Solar Funders Group

UN General Assembly (UNGA) 2023
2023-09-19 - 2023-09-26 | United Nations, United Nations Headquarters, New York, United States
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) is the main policy-making organ of the Organization. Comprising all Member States, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations. Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote.
The UNGA also makes key decisions for the UN, including:

appointing the Secretary-General on the recommendation of the Security Council
electing the non-permanent members of the Security Council
approving the UN budget

The Assembly meets in regular sessions from September to December each year, and thereafter as required. It discusses specific issues through dedicated agenda items or sub-items, which lead to the adoption of resolutions.
Sitting arrangements in the General Assembly Hall change for each session. During the 78th Session (2023-2024), North Macedonia will occupy the first seat in the Hall, including in the Main Committees (followed by all the other countries, in English alphabetical order).

Decarbonizing Agriculture: renewable energy and the sustainable future of food
2023-09-19 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | virtual
During Climate Week NYC 2023, Power for All is hosting a webinar with participation from IRENA, UN FAO, and others. This session will delve into the intersection of Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 7. We welcome you to join this enlightening discussion where we'll present our primary research findings. Discover how distributed renewable energy (DRE) can amplify agricultural productivity, contribute to the decarbonization of the food system, curtail greenhouse gas emissions, and mitigate the worst impacts of global warming.
Session Outline
Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) is emerging as a pivotal solution for agriculture, ensuring consistent power and reducing carbon emissions. This global launch event brings together a diverse array of stakeholders - from international funders, ministries, and private companies to media and farming communities. Join us for a research-driven panel discussion led by experts including:

Dr. Rabia Ferroukhi, Director, Knowledge, Policy and Finance Center, International Renewable Energy Agency.
Nicole Iseppi, Director - Global Energy Innovation, Bezos Earth Fund
Brian Kawuma, Powering Agriculture Director, Power for All; Ugandan Horticultural Farmer
Dr. Michela Morese, Energy Team Leader, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Kristina Skierka, Founder and CEO, Power for All

The discussion will delve into:

Relevance of DRE: While countries work to further their agricultural development, the potential of DRE is often overlooked.
Applications and Opportunities: Finance and policy initiatives need to be strengthened to ensure DRE technology is available for smallholder farmers.
Initiatives in Action: We will highlight real-world examples that showcase the benefits of integrating renewable energy with agricultural methods.
Impact on Climate Change: DRE is not only essential for power generation but also plays a role in combating climate change. We will present data on how integrating it into agricultural strategies can combat the negative impacts of climate change on food systems, helping ensure food security.

HSFG Working Group local companies
2023-09-25 15:00 - 16:00 (Africa/Johannesburg) | virtual
Meeting of the Household Solar Funders Group working group on local companies

Burundi Renewable Energy Access Days (BREAD)
2023-10-03 - 2023-10-05 | Donatus Conference Centre – DCC, Bujumbura, Burundi
As part of their efforts to stimulate the achievement of SDG 7 in Burundi, supported by GET.invest Burundi, the Global Off-Grid Lighting Association (GOGLA), the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) and the Burundi Renewable Energy Association (BUREA), the European Union and the World Bank will jointly organise the 2nd edition of the Burundi Renewable Energy Access Days (BREAD), from 3 to 5 October 2023 in Bujumbura, Burundi.
The event will take place under the patronage of the Government of Burundi, the Ministry of Hydraulics, Energy and Mines (MHEM) and the Directorate-General for Energy.
The Burundi Renewable Energy Access Days is the main energy sector meeting in the country

assessing emerging considerations for Burundi's strategy on universal access to electricity coupled with the climate agenda and
providing a platform for knowledge exchange, networking and showcasing of renewable energy products and services.

From dialogue to action? A non-technical discussion on the purpose, highlights, and outcomes of the Africa Climate Summit.
2023-10-03 14:00 - 15:00 (Africa/Nairobi) | virtual
2nd webinar in the Just Energy Transition in Africa series, where we discuss the recently concluded Africa Climate Summit (ACS). This webinar will explore the objectives, key takeaways, and potential outcomes of the ACS in the lead-up to COP28.
Panel includes Wale Shonibare, Irene Karani, and Lily Odarno.
Moderated by Murefu Barasa

Renewable Energy Forum Africa (REFA)
2023-10-04 00:00 - 2023-10-06 23:59 (Africa/Johannesburg) | Sarit Expo Center, Nairobi, Kenya
Renewable Energy Forum Africa (REFA) is the new annual conference organized by AFSIA and SolarPower Europe to promote investment in renewables on the African continent. The event is supported by GET.invest, a European programme which aims to mobilise investment in decentralised renewable energy, supported by the European Union, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands and Austria.
Building on the success of prior events, this new edition promises to bring even more experts together, address more topical discussions and allow for more unparalleled meeting opportunities in Nairobi from 4 till 6 October 2023 at the Sarit Expo Center. It will be THE place to meet for all renewable energy stakeholders of the African continent bringing under one roof institutional and private investors, project developers, policy makers, energy utilities, regulators, corporates and the most influential energy sector decision makers.

ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF) 2023
2023-10-12 00:00 - 2023-10-13 23:59 (Africa/Johannesburg) | National Assembly, Praia, Cape Verde
he ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) is proud to announce that it will be organizing the 8th edition of the ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF) 2023, scheduled to take place in the city of Praia – Cabo Verde, on October 12 and 13, under the auspices of the office of the prime-minister of Cabo Verde.
During the last years, ESEF has established itself as the premier energy event in West Africa, attracting a wide range of stakeholders from around the world. This year's theme focuses on promoting sustainable energy in the region, and will bring together key stakeholders, including policymakers, industry leaders, and world-renowned experts to deliberate on pressing energy challenges and opportunities in the region. By fostering collaboration among these stakeholders, the Forum aims to ensure comprehensive and well-rounded discussions that lead to actionable outcomes.

Demand-side Subsidies for Energy Access Webinar 2
2023-10-19 14:00 - 14:15 (Europe/Amsterdam) | virtual
Eligible Products & Subsidy Level
The End User Subsidy Lab (EUSL), a joint initiative among partners ESMAP/Lighting Global, GOGLA, Energising Development (EnDev), and the Clean Cook Alliance (CCA), is a platform for pooling knowledge, technical expertise, and funding for demand-side subsidies (DSS). This webinar series organized by the EUSL will guide us through the key elements of designing demand-side subsidies programmes to facilitate the implementation of overarching energy access strategies. Each webinar will be 75 minutes with the main objective to support in-depth dialogue and discussion around lessons learned, challenges, and ‘how to’.
The second webinar focuses on how to calculate a market-informed, responsible subsidy, and the specification and selection of eligible products. We will explore data sources and methodologies that can best support measuring affordability gap/ ability and willingness to pay, choosing products, and setting appropriate subsidy levels to avoid market distortion.
Key questions we will discuss include: What subsidy level is necessary to fulfil the intended objective of the DSS scheme? How does the subsidy level relate to the adopted subsidy targeting strategy? How can different business / pricing models be taken into account when calculating the subsidy to ensure a levelled playing field? This webinar, moderated by the Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA), will engage in discussion around the benefits, pitfalls, guidance, and takeaways to subsidy design, and will showcase the experience of relevant practitioners.

The Business Case for Investing in Gender Diversity in Renewable Energy webinar
2023-10-19 16:00 - 17:00 (Africa/Nairobi) | virtual
As the renewable energy sector grows, women can play a key role in improving company competitiveness. There is strong evidence that gender diverse companies perform better as compared to their peers. Join us to learn more about the business case and how your company can invest in women as leaders and employees for enhanced corporate performance.
Event Agenda
11:00 – 11:05am Opening and introductions by Anne Kabugi – Africa Gender Lead, IFC
11:05 – 11:40am The Power of Gender Diversity to Enhance Business Competitiveness by Pamela Baldinger – President, Baldinger Consulting, and Corinne Hart – Senior Gender Advisor Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Hub USAID
11:40 - 11:55am Q&A by Ann Casanova – Energy2Equal Program Lead, IFC
11:55 – 12:00pm Energy2Equal Updates and Closing Remarks by Anne Kabugi – Africa Gender Lead, IFC

HSFG working group PUE
2023-10-23 15:00 - 16:00 (Africa/Johannesburg) | virtual
Working group meeting of the Household Solar Funders Group.
This is a members-only meeting.
For more information, please contact HSFG coordinator Wim Jonker Klunne (click contact in menu)

webinar on 'Digitalisation & Optimisation'
2023-10-26 14:00 - 15:00 (Europe/Brussels) | virtual
The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) is organising the newest edition of its Innovation for Electrification (I4E) showcase webinar series on the topic of Digitalisation & Optimisation, with the support of Strategic Partnership Technology in Africa (SPTA).
Digital technologies have become integral to sustainable distributed renewable energy (DRE) business models. They find application in diverse areas such as demand mapping, optimising the integration of renewables into electricity systems, enhancing grid reliability, and developing consumer payment models.
In emerging markets, cutting-edge modular technologies, remote monitoring, control software, smart meters, AI, and real-time data collection and analysis platforms are facilitating the delivery of affordable and clean energy access for all.
In this regard, with the support of Strategic Partnership Technology in Africa (SPTA), ARE is organising this year's third edition of the I4E showcase webinar series to enable ARE Members to showcase their products and services.

ESMAP webinar: Accelerating the Productive Use of Electricity
2023-10-30 09:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | virtual
ESMAP will organise a webinar where panelists will discuss the interconnection between energy and agri-food systems, focusing on how technology developments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, digitalization, and fintech solutions open new opportunities for more resilient productive use interventions.
ESMAP’s new publication highlights the importance of promoting the use of energy for income generation and enhanced productivity to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises to accelerate development after communities gain access to electricity. It recommends an ecosystem approach to comprehensively stimulate productive use of electricity including five building blocks: planning, policy and regulations, technology and innovation, access to finance, and business development support.
You'll find the full report here.

Africa Investment Exchange: Power & Renewables 2023
2023-11-01 - 2023-11-02 | Royal Society of Arts (RSA House), 8 John Adam Street, London, WC2N 6EZ, United Kingdom
AIX was set up in 2014 to establish an enduring dialogue for investors and energy industry professionals, with the aim of stimulating business engagement and long- term partnerships.
Alongside our usual lively mix of panel discussions, held, as ever under the Chatham House Rule, our 2023 programme also includes an afternoon of roundtables focused on Matching finance and projects.
We hope they prove to be a useful addition to the AIX format, which is known for its robust debate and knowledge-led approach.
Africa’s evolving power network also assumes a greater significance in this year’s programme with sessions focusing on linking power markets, the future of wheeling, financing decentralised energy and a data-led discussion on the growth potential of the C&I sector.

International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum
2023-11-02 00:00 - 2023-11-03 23:59 (Africa/Johannesburg) | Hofburg Conference Centre, Vienna, Austria
The International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum will gather senior decision-makers, international experts and other stakeholders on 2 and 3 November 2023 at the Hofburg International Centre in Vienna, Austria.
The two-day event takes place at a critical moment for global climate action and sustainable development. Convening only a few weeks before the United Nations Climate Conference COP 28, the Forum will provide insightful impulses and practical solutions to best support the global summit.
Guided by the motto “Progress by Innovation”, the Energy and Climate Forum will delve into key priorities, showcase solutions implemented by Governments, the private sector, academia and various stakeholders from around the world and highlight the action-oriented steps required to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. Discussions will focus on means to scale up solutions and address challenges, particularly in Africa.
As part of the Forum Solutions Week, Youth Solution Days on 30 October – 1 November will mobilize the unprecedented power of young women and men to use innovative technologies and drive the energy transition forward by building their skills and competences. Clean Technology Days will highlight cleantech innovation solutions and champion cleantech entrepreneurship.

Demand-side Subsidies for Energy Access Webinar 3 | Delivery Models for Subsidies & Verification
2023-11-15 14:00 - 15:30 (Europe/Amsterdam) | virtual
The End User Subsidy Lab (EUSL), a joint initiative among partners ESMAP/Lighting Global, GOGLA, Energising Development (EnDev), and the Clean Cook Alliance (CCA), is a platform for pooling knowledge, technical expertise, and funding for demand-side subsidies (DSS). This webinar series organized by the EUSL will guide us through the key elements of designing demand-side subsidies programmes to facilitate the implementation of overarching energy access strategies. Each webinar will be 75 minutes with the main objective to support in-depth dialogue and discussion around lessons learned, challenges, and ‘how to’.
The third webinar focuses on various methods of delivering subsidies & verification methods. Delivery may be through companies, vouchers, automatic deposit, via results-based financing (RBF), or with concessional consumer finance. Subsequently, we will consider how verification methods can best support the goal of the subsidy program and measure results. We will discuss how best to monitor DSS to ensure they are being properly translated into lower prices for the beneficiary and reach the intended target group.
Key questions that will be discussed include: What are the advantages and disadvantages of various delivery models? What should be considered when selecting an appropriate delivery channel? How should the subsidy disbursement be structured to ensure optimal uptake? What (digital) verification methods exist and when can / should they be used? How can verification cost, time and effectiveness be balanced to ensure optimal implementation and use of public funds? This webinar, moderated by GOGLA, will engage in discussion around the benefits, challenges, and insights of various delivery and verification approaches, and will showcase the experience of relevant practitioners.

Renewable Energy Conference & EXPO Uganda 2023
2023-11-16 - 2023-11-18 | Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort, 1049 Wavamunno Rd, Kampala, Uganda
The 3rd annual Renewable Energy Conference and EXPO 2023 (REC23 & EXPO), organized through the National Renewable Energy Platform (NREP) will bring together thousands of stakeholders from academia, industry, government, development partners, civil society organizations and the general public to share experiences, lessons learnt and best practices/approaches for tackling the energy sector challenges and to foster renewable energy and energy efficiency adoption in Uganda.
The REC23 & EXPO will feature a conference, several side events and exhibitions of renewable energy innovations, businesses & technologies.

REACT SSA – Ethiopia portfolio showcase event
2023-11-22 | Capital hotel, 22 Haile Gebre Silase St, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
At this event AECF will showcase their portfolio of 10 investees (mostly SHS and clean cooking) and learnings from their TA / Advocacy / Knowledge and investment work since 2019 in Ethiopia.

HSFG working group local companies
2023-11-22 15:00 - 16:00 (Africa/Johannesburg) | virtual

Universal Electricity Access Projects Webinar 2: Electrification Program Design
2023-11-22 16:00 - 17:00 (Africa/Johannesburg) | virtual
Power Africa is dedicated to supporting utilities in their universal electrification plans and programs across West Africa. Power Africa is now organizing a series of webinars addressing universal electricity access to share crucial insights and lessons learned. The webinar sessions will be conducted virtually, October 2023 - March 2024. The webinars will be a collaborative effort between Power Africa and representatives from our counterparts, who will present a range of experiences.
Power Africa’s second webinar in the series will be about starting a Universal Electricity Access project. This webinar will discuss various program approaches, including the focus on electrification planning and considerations for financial analysis and cost structuring of universal access programs.

Business Conference - Renewables in Mozambique 2023
2023-11-24 08:00 - 17:00 (Africa/Maputo) | Montebelo Indy Maputo Congress Hotel, 99, Rua Dom Sebastião, Maputo, 1750, Mozambique
The Business Conference - Renewables in Mozambique 2023 (#RenMoz) returns to Maputo on November 24, following the Mozambique - EU Global Gateway Investment Forum event which will take place the days before, on the 22nd and 23rd of November.
Following the 2021 and 2022 editions, RenMoz will be the meeting point for the main national and international stakeholders and specialists in the renewable energy sector, who will share the most relevant news on the sector's development over the past year.
This year's edition reinforces the two previous editions, underlining RenMoz's history as a leading event for the sector, organised by those who follow and are fully informed about renewable energies in Mozambique.

Unlocking Off-Grid Solar: How Results Based Financing is driving energy access and productive use of renewable energy
2023-11-29 15:00 - 16:30 (Europe/Amsterdam) | virtual
During this Webinar GOGLA will present the key results from its new short data-driven report on RBFs. The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion on the role of RBFs in promoting energy access and productive use of renewable energy with panellists from Efficiency for Access, the World Bank Group and companies in the off-grid solar industry.
The main results presentation will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Siena Hacker from CLASP, Charlie Miller, Eno Umoh from Sun King, and Michael Kuntz, CFA from Simusolar, Inc.

COP28 side event: AECF on nexus between food security, water and energy
2023-11-30 16:00 - 17:30 (Asia/Dubai) | Commonwealth pavilion, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
COP28 side event focusing on investments and regulations / leading government on the nexus between food security, water and energy. The objective of the event is to identify how nexus investment portfolio and enabling environments can be powerful in building resilience (beyond the siloed sectorial approach)

COP28 side event: Scaling up Distributed Renewable Energy Access: From Commitments to Action
2023-12-05 10:00 - 10:45 (Asia/Dubai) | Blue zone – WBG pavillion, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
One year ago, the World Bank committed to help African countries triple the pace of electrification with decentralized renewable energy by 2026. The event will showcase the concrete steps the WBG is taking to realize this ambitious goal, including +$6 billion of new WBG lending to regional and national energy access programs and a new productive use-centered approach to scaling distributed renewable energy solutions for enhanced food security and agricultural value chain resilience across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Power for All webinar: Boosting East Africa's agrifood systems through renewable energy
2023-12-05 16:00 - 17:00 (Africa/Kampala) | virtual
The upcoming webinar 'Empowering Smallholder Farmers: Boosting Agricultural Productivity Through Distributed Renewable Energy Policies to Attract Private Sector Investment', is the next feature in Power for All’s Agriculture Webinar series. This session will focus on how alignment on policy, regulation, and finance can expand distributed renewable energy (DRE) and practically benefit East Africa's agricultural sector. The session will see leading policymakers from Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia, discussing the vital policy and investment strategies needed to evolve food systems and mitigate their climate impact.
Representing over 80% of global farmers and producing nearly a third of the world’s food, smallholder farmers are vital to global food systems, especially in the Global South. The agricultural sector, heavily reliant on fossil fuels, accounts for over 30% of global emissions. Facing strained food systems and a major role in climate change, urgent action is needed to meet the expected 60% increase in food demand by 2050 and avert a major global crisis.
The Global South, contributing least to the food-climate crisis, faces its severest impacts. This disparity threatens food systems in sub-Saharan Africa, complicating efforts to satisfy the growing population's food needs.
The Webinar will feature key policymakers in Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia, discussing how encouraging strategic renewable energy investments can transform agriculture into a catalyst for climate resilience.
Power for All's recent research reveals that transitioning just five key farming technologies to renewable energy for Africa's smallholder farmers can cut emissions by 10% and significantly elevate the continent's economy by $24.5 billion.
Panelists

Hizkyas Dufera, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands, Govt. of Ethiopia
Dan K Marangu, Director of Renewable Energy, Ministry of Energy, Govt. of Kenya
Dominic Banaga Mucunguzi : Principal Engineer, Irrigation and Drainage, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Govt of Uganda

Session Moderated by Brian Kawuma, Powering Agriculture Director, Power for All

Demand-side subsidies webinar 4: Exit strategy approaches for subsidy programmes
2023-12-06 13:00 - 14:15 (Europe/Amsterdam) | virtual
The fourth webinar in the Demand-side Subsidies for Energy Access Webinar Series focuses on exit strategy approaches within the context of energy access subsidies. While universal access may require ongoing subsidies, an exit strategy should be integrated into program design.
This webinar, moderated by GOGLA, will engage in discussions on designing an exit strategy that aligns with the project's overarching goals for long-term access. Furthermore, we will examine the feasibility of phasing out subsidies once the target is met, exploring the availability of adequate funds to fulfil this objective or assessing the potential need for recurrent subsidies.

OFF-GRID Expo + Conference
2023-12-07 00:00 - 2023-12-08 23:59 (Africa/Johannesburg) | Messe Augsburg, Augsbrug, Germany
The two conference days on December 7 – 8, 2023 offer you sessions with top-class topics and experts from all over the world. Live on stage. The program is designed in cooperation with our partner, the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE).
The two-day event is the only neutral congress trade event in Europe focused on the off-grid solar, wind and hydropower systems sector. With its practice-oriented format consisting of a conference, trade fair and community network happening, it is the highlight at the end of the year.
