Alwaleed Philanthropies partners with Energies Pour L’ Afrique for ‘cleaner energy’ solutions
RIYADH, Dec 5: Alwaleed Philanthropies (AP), chaired by HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz AlSaud, has announced its partnership with ‘Energies Pour L’Afrique’ headed by Jean-Louis Borloo, previous Leader of the Union of Democrats and Independents, and previous Minister of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Town and Country Planning, in aims to mobilize its network in increasing access to clean energy.
Access to energy is becoming a significant issue for the international community and is particularly of concern for the African continent where 75% of the population has little to no access to renewable energy. Due to the demographic development and despite the efforts made by African executives, the situation worsens every year with an increase in the population by 10 million people annually. Additionally, climate change has been a major factor in creating migration movements and population loss, which can be disruptive to both the local community and neighboring countries.
The European Union has supported a number of energy-related initiatives, whereas the American Congress has supported the project “Power Africa”, following other large states. Access to Energy became a top priority for 54 heads of state and governments, which led to creating a dedicated instrument that provides subventions to support projects in the African continent. 54 African presidents decided to create a single vehicle for the whole continent to get foreign subventions from both Europe and the US, and to distribute it by country and project. This vehicle is called a “financial instrument” and takes the form of a company owned by the African states. “Energies L’Afrique” aims to increase the access to clean energy from 25% to 80% during the next 8 years.
Increasing access to clean energy is the COP 22’s priority. The conference headed by His Majesty King Mohamed VI aims to provide concrete solutions to the lack of energy issue. During the COP22, the King of Morocco dedicated 2 days for only high ranked officials titled “high level segment”. The last day, on the 16th of November, was dedicated to Africa with an emphasis on energy. Large and small philanthropic foundations were called upon to contribute.
Alwaleed Philanthropies aims to mobilize philanthropic foundations in its network in order to draw attention to supporting and funding energy-related projects. The foundation’s partnership with “Energie Pour L’Afrique” is one of its ways of achieving the United Nation’s Global Sustainable Development Goals, specifically towards providing low cost renewable energy by 2030.
For over 37 years, Alwaleed Philanthropies has supported and initiated projects in over 124 countries regardless of gender, race or religion. Alwaleed Philanthropies collaborates with a range of philanthropic, governmental and educational organizations to combat poverty, empower women and youth, develop communities, provide disaster relief and create cultural understanding through education.
“Energie L’Afrique” Energies for Africa is an association created in 2015 by former French Minister Jean-Louis Borloo, in aims to create a unique and dedicated tool that finances access to energy in the African continent, and therefore increase access to electricity from 25% to 80% in the next decade.
Energies for Africa has been mobilizing political support and aiming to convene international funds with an average of 3 billion euros per year as a start-up fund, for the duration of 12 years. The association brought together the European Union and the African Union to create a new generation of partnerships focused on grants. Hence, it comes as no surprise that Energies for Africa has partnered with Alwaleed Philanthropies to help mobilize philanthropists and NGOs in increasing access to clean energy.