This document outlines the SESA project’s peer-to-peer exchanges aimed at enhancing knowledge sharing on sustainable energy solutions. Between October 2022 and 2024, 10 exchanges engaged 127 participants from businesses, NGOs, and local and national governments, focusing on the technologies that have been tested in the SESA projects, as well as relevant aspects such as business models, policies, partnerships and lack of technical knowledge. The exchanges took place mainly in Africa but also in Europe, fostering collaboration, addressing local challenges, and supporting the implementation of smart energy solutions. The document also includes lessons learned and insights for improving future knowledge transfer activities within the project.

Executive Summary

This document presents the activities carried out by the SESA project to enhance peer-topeer exchanges. Whilst the concept can indicate more or less formalized ways of knowledge transfers, and both have been undertaken in the project, the scope of this document is to give relevance and present the exchanges that took place between practitioners engaged in the implementation of smart and sustainable solutions for energy access, mainly in the African countries targeted by SESA but not only, via the engagement of other African countries as well as some Europeans countries.

Learning and knowledge sharing has been one of the central pieces of this EU-funded project that, between October 2022 and October 2024, organized 10 peer exchanges, engaging a total of 127 representatives of small and medium-sized businesses, NGOs and local governments. The exchanges, created with, by and for the partners involved and the local stakeholders they work with, took place both in Africa, as a key component of the regional events, and in Europe, thanks to the European Study Visits.

The activities touched upon technologies and methodologies which have either high transferability potential of adopting the same -or similar- approach elsewhere, or inspirational effect to unlock innovation and out-of-the-box thinking, directly contributing to the SESA project’s objectives by advancing clean and smart energy access solutions in Africa supporting local value creation.

The peer-to-peer exchanges within the SESA project have been a valuable tool for enhancing knowledge transfer and fostering collaboration across diverse regions and sectors. These interactions allowed stakeholders to explore key topics, such as clean cooking solutions, circular economy models, and business models for energy solutions, while addressing local challenges. The exchanges emphasized the importance of partnerships among cities, governments, and the private sector and highlighted the role of local context in the successful implementation of climate and energy strategies.