NEWS

Women Powering Change: Leading the transformation in Smart Energy Solutions for Africa

Women Powering Change: Leading the transformation in Smart Energy Solutions for Africa

In the dynamic landscape of energy research and engineering, the pivotal role of women is increasingly gaining recognition. Across Europe and Africa, female researchers and engineers are making significant contributions to the development and implementation of smart energy solutions. Their participation not only brings diversity to the field but also enhances innovation and inclusivity in addressing the energy challenges faced by these regions. "Sometimes people may think that because you´re a woman you´re not able to manage a big scientific project. Don´t let that happen to you. We, as...

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SESA provides training on clean cooking technology to female students and graduate engineers at Rwanda Replication Action

SESA provides training on clean cooking technology to female students and graduate engineers at Rwanda Replication Action

19 female students and graduate engineers were trained on clean cooking technology by Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA) at the Rwanda Replication Action. The training was offered by lecturers on energy at the University of Rwanda, partners in the SESA project and technicians from EcoGreen Solution Ltd. The training for women in clean cooking technology was a transformative experience that occurred on two separate occasions. The first session, held on the 20th and 21st February, brought together a group of 10 women. Following the success of the initial training, a second session took...

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Harnessing the potential of Smart Microgrid Systems in African countries

Harnessing the potential of Smart Microgrid Systems in African countries

We kindly invite you to the SESA Online Webinar on ‘Smart microgrid systems in African countries’ to be held online via Zoom on 14th March 2024 at 12:00 - 13:30 GMT (15:00 - 16:30 EAT / 13:00 – 14:30 CET), jointly organized by the Stockholm Environment Institute, ICLEI Europe and F6S.Webinar overview: The energy poverty gap in sub-Saharan Africa affects approximately 597 million people, mainly rural households that are too remote from the main grid and are too costly to electrify by extending the main grid, thus posing a major challenge to the socio-economic development of these communities....

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Eight SMEs Selected as Winners of the SESA Call for Entrepreneurs 2023

Eight SMEs Selected as Winners of the SESA Call for Entrepreneurs 2023

The Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA) consortium is delighted to announce the winners of the 2nd SESA Call for Entrepreneurs 2023. After a rigorous selection process led by SESA partner Siemens Stiftung, eight local Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) from Cote D’Ivoire, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Tanzania have been chosen to drive forward access to sustainable energy solutions across Africa.Meet the selected entrepreneurs: Cool Lions Energies from Abidjan, Côte d‘Ivoire Dritoven Engineering CC from Windhoek, Namibia Ohengo Investments CC from Windhoek, Namibia Havenhill...

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Exploring the potential of 2nd life batteries in the Africa countries

Exploring the potential of 2nd life batteries in the Africa countries

We kindly invite you to the SESA Online Webinar on ‘Exploring the potential of 2nd life batteries in the Africa countries’ to be held online via Zoom on Wednesday 24th January, 12:00 - 13:30 GMT (15:00 - 16:30 EAT / 13:00 – 14:30 CET).Webinar overview The use of batteries has been gaining traction across the world for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and in other applications. Battery usage aims to reduce the GHG emissions and boost the adoption of clean energy technologies globally. In general, the lifetime of batteries is approximately 10 years, depending upon its application and usage,...

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SESA launches Morocco living lab

SESA launches Morocco living lab

GREEN ENERGY PARK (UM6P, IRESEN), the research, testing, and training platform in renewable energies, launched an urban pilot project dedicated to electric mobility on November 13, 2023, in support of the association for the education of rural girls (A.S.J.F.R) in Marrakech.This initiative stems from a successful collaboration with the startup POGO, within the 'Sustainable Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA)' project, funded by the European Commission under the H2020 program and involving several African and European partners. The main objective of this project is to provide energy access...

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SESA Second General Assembly

SESA Second General Assembly

Two years after the beginning of the project, SESA held its second General Assembly on November 6, 2023. The milestone served as an opportunity for partners to highlight the project’s main achievements and coordinate for the successful continuation of the project. On this occasion, a session was dedicated to the external Advisory Board that provided their perspective on the SESA outcomes and shared relevant insights and recommendations on the activities planned by the project partners. The following snapshot features the most relevant hot topics and the results achieved so far that were...

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Smart Energy Solutions for Africa and uYilo e-Mobility Programme commission Alicedale Living Lab

Smart Energy Solutions for Africa and uYilo e-Mobility Programme commission Alicedale Living Lab

Gqeberha, South Africa 1 November 2023 - SESA, Smart Energy Solutions for Africa, the European commission-funded 29-partner strong consortium officially launched the Alicedale Living Lab yesterday with SESA partner uYilo e-Mobility Programme and the South African implementing partner GREEN Solar Academy. The living lab installation is designed and implemented to provide positive benefits to the Alicedale community, with a strong focus on renewable energy and creating entrepreneurship opportunities.The SESA Living Lab installation includes a shipping container converted to serve as a Solar...

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SESA unlocks potential of smart energy solutions at regional event in Ghana

SESA unlocks potential of smart energy solutions at regional event in Ghana

The SESA - Smart Energy Solutions for Africa project, held its second Regional Event and Policy Dialogue in Accra, Ghana from the 9th to the 13th of October 2023. The event, hosted by SESA consortium member the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), Econexus Ventures and Nastech Power Solutions offered insights into the successful implementation of SESA sustainable energy solutions in Accra and Kumasi (Ghana), specifically clean cooking solutions and off-grid solar technology, in addition to highlighting the importance of peer-to-peer...

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The results for the 2nd SESA Call for Entrepreneurs 2023 are in!

The results for the 2nd SESA Call for Entrepreneurs 2023 are in!

The results are in, and the SESA Project's Call for Entrepreneurs 2023 has brought forth a wave of innovative and visionary minds ready to tackle Africa's energy access challenges. This year's call sought to empower entrepreneurs hailing from Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Their mission: to pave the way for a more sustainable, energy-secure future across the continent. Each selected enterprise will receive between €50,000 to €100,000 for the design, implementation, and evaluation of submitted replication projects via service agreements. After selection, they will have the...

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EU and Africa together paving the Way for Energy Access: Smart Energy Solutions for Africa – Second Regional Event and Policy Dialogue

EU and Africa together paving the Way for Energy Access: Smart Energy Solutions for Africa – Second Regional Event and Policy Dialogue

Accra, 10 October 2023 – The Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA) project, funded by the Horizon 2020 programme from the European Commission, is pleased to announce the Second Regional Event and Policy Dialogue in Accra, Ghana from the 9th to the 13th of October 2023.  The project aimed at providing energy access technologies and business models for sustainable development in Africa. The SESA consortium commitment to engaging with regional authorities, local authorities and citizens takes centre stage in this event, hosted by the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and...

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WEBINAR: Rural Internet Access – Solving the Challenge

WEBINAR: Rural Internet Access – Solving the Challenge

We kindly invite you to the SESA Online Webinar on ‘Rural Internet Access: Solving the Challenge’ to be held online via Zoom on Tuesday 24th October, 15:00 - 16:30 CEST, organised by Basic Internet Foundation.Webinar overview In a world that is becoming increasingly digitally connected, the issue of equitable access  remains a significant barrier, particularly in remote and underserved rural communities.  Through the SESA EU project, the Basic Internet Foundation is committed to addressing this  gap and fostering inclusive digital landscapes. This webinar is an opportunity to explore the...

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SESA Project Regional Event in Ghana

SESA Project Regional Event in Ghana

SESA – Smart Energy Solutions for Africa is a collaborative project between the European Union and nine African countries (Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Tanzania) that aims at providing access to energy technologies and business models that are easily replicable and generate local opportunities for economic development and social cohesion in Africa. The project is funded by the EU Horizon 2020 programme. An integral element of the SESA project is Regional Capacity Building in West Africa, North Africa, East Africa, and South Africa. The capacity...

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WEBINAR: Increasing access to financing for e-mobility deployment – the role of financial institutions, international organisations, local governments and e-mobility innovators

WEBINAR: Increasing access to financing for e-mobility deployment – the role of financial institutions, international organisations, local governments and e-mobility innovators

We kindly invite you to the SESA Online Webinar on ‘Increasing access to financing for e-mobility deployment – the role of financial institutions, international organisations, local governments and e-mobility innovators’ to be held online via Zoom on 30th August 2023 at 11:00 - 12:30 GMT (14:00 - 15:30 EAT / 13:00 – 14:30 CEST), jointly organised by UEMI, UN Habitat, Smart Innovation Norway, ICLEI Europe, F6S and the European funded project SOLUTIONSplus.  Webinar overview E-mobility development is garnering momentum across the world. In Africa, this sector is relatively new but has enormous...

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WEBINAR: Enhancing adoption of Waste-to-Energy Solutions for Clean Cooking in Africa

WEBINAR: Enhancing adoption of Waste-to-Energy Solutions for Clean Cooking in Africa

We kindly invite you to the SESA Online Webinar on ‘Enhancing adoption of Waste-to-Energy solutions for Clean Cooking in Africa’ to be held online via Zoom on 21st June 2023 at 11:00 - 12:30 GMT (14:00 - 15:30 EAT / 13:00 – 14:30 CEsT), jointly organized by Smart Innovation Norway, LEITAT and ICLEI Europe. Webinar overview According to the Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report 2023, developed jointly by International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), International Energy Agency (IEA), World Bank, United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), and World Health Organization (WHO), highlights...

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Unlocking New Frontiers: SESA’s European Study Programme Explores Smart Energy Solutions in Three Vibrant Cities

Unlocking New Frontiers: SESA’s European Study Programme Explores Smart Energy Solutions in Three Vibrant Cities

From 8-13 May, SESA hosted the European Study Programme in three cities across Europe – Cascais (Portugal), Barcelona (Spain), and Gothenburg (Sweden). Organised by ICLEI Europe, the European Study Programme is the first part of the peer-to-peer exchange and took representatives from Living Labs from eight of the SESA countries to Europe. The programme allowed the delegation to visit these three cities with the objective of learning more about smart energy solution technologies and their deployment in a different context. It offered as well, the opportunity to exchange with European cities...

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SESA Webinar Explores the Future of Solar Energy in Africa

SESA Webinar Explores the Future of Solar Energy in Africa

On 26 April 2023, the Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA) project hosted an online webinar focused on solar energy. With Africa's abundant solar potential and the urgent need for energy access, the webinar aimed to address barriers and outline a future for solar energy in African countries. Organized by UN-Habitat, Smart Innovation Norway, and ICLEI WS, the webinar marked the culmination of the SESA capacity building program's first course on solar energy. Africa possesses one of the world's highest solar energy potentials, which plays a crucial role in energy transition and increasing...

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SESA Call for Entrepreneurs 2023 is officially launched!

SESA Call for Entrepreneurs 2023 is officially launched!

Harnessing the scaling and replication potential of sustainable energy solutions in Africa: “2nd SESA Call for Entrepreneurs 2023” is open. Munich, May 2, 2023 - Siemens Stiftung on behalf of the Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA) consortium, invites local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda and Tanzania to apply for the “2nd SESA Call for Entrepreneurs 2023”. The call is looking for entrepreneurs with expertise in addressing the continent's energy access challenges with a focus on rural and off-grid communities. Enterprises can apply for the call...

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SESA launches its Capacity Building Programme first course

SESA launches its Capacity Building Programme first course

The first course in SESA’s Capacity Building Programme is now available! The online programme, designed to close the knowledge gap around renewable and smart energy solution technologies, aims to help participants understand what alternative technologies exist and how they work.  Case studies and examples relevant to the African context make up the foundation of the courses, but the programme is open to all participants who want to enter the world of sustainable energy, seek alternatives to traditional energy sources and opt for sustainable development in both urban and rural contexts.   The...

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Smart Innovation Norway kick-started 6-week long foundational incubator programs for the companies selected under SESA’s ‘Call for Entrepreneurs’.

Smart Innovation Norway kick-started 6-week long foundational incubator programs for the companies selected under SESA’s ‘Call for Entrepreneurs’.

10 companies have been selected to take part in the program which aims at introducing companies to methods and strategies for reaching problem solution fit faster.The selected companies are: Nastech power solutions Econexus Smart Energy Enterprises Green Solar academy Cellys Technologies JERU aiScarecrow Technologies Magufina Wattsc Malasha Briquettes On the first seminar all the companies selected were introduced to each other and to the mentors from Smart Innovation Norway. This was followed by seminar on topic of Startup/Scaleup Life Cycle. From now onwards there will be seminar and...

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FIRST SESA COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE LAUNCHED!

FIRST SESA COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE LAUNCHED!

Community and Knowledge Exchange are at the heart of the SESA Project. Given its multiple thematic areas and experts from different fields and countries, a lot is to be learnt from each other and shared as widely as possible to strengthen global and local capacities for the implementation of sustainable energy projects. Therefore, as part of WP2 which focuses on capacity building, online Community of Practices will be launched and maintained to strengthen the capacities of decision makers, practitioners and businesses in sustainable energy in Africa. The Community of Practices will serve as...

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Boosting accessibility to affordable renewable energy in Africa: Four African SMEs emerge winners of SESA ‘Call for Entrepreneurs 2022’

Boosting accessibility to affordable renewable energy in Africa: Four African SMEs emerge winners of SESA ‘Call for Entrepreneurs 2022’

Siemens Stiftung on behalf of the Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA) consortium is excited to announce the winners of the “SESA Call for Entrepreneurs 2022”. Launched in September 2022, the open and competitive call for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) focused on Productive Use of Energy (PUE) solutions in Ghana, Malawi, Morocco, and South Africa. The inaugural call for entrepreneurs encouraged women-led enterprises to apply, resulting in over 30 percent of the total applications coming from female founders.Meet the winners Econexus Ventures Limited (Ghana) a female-led...

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The SESA Info-spots: Bringing education closer to the communities

The SESA Info-spots: Bringing education closer to the communities

SESA is a project, which aims at providing energy access technologies and business models that are easily replicable and generate local opportunities for economic development and social cohesion in Africa. However, one of the questions we asked ourselves is "How can we get information on energy to people who do not have access to the Internet?" and that’s how the initiative of deploying the SESA Info-spots was born. Africa has about 20% of all landmass of the world and  to cover large areas makes installation of broadband challenging and expensive. Given the lower income in rural areas, the...

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Africa-Europe SESA incubator program is looking for regional mentors in Africa!

Africa-Europe SESA incubator program is looking for regional mentors in Africa!

Target countries: Ghana, Malawi and South Africa 5 mid-stage start-up companies will be financially supported under European Union (EU) funded SESA project through its incubator programme.There is an opening for up to 2-3 regional mentors who have experience working with start-ups in the focus countries. 5 start-ups will focus on:Solar solutions for irrigation and buildings, Waste-to-energy solutions and off-grid energy solutions with battery storage (it would be a big plus if mentors have experience in these focus areas). Mentoring duration: March 2023- June 2024 with defined number of...

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The Call for Entrepreneurs results 2022 are in!

The Call for Entrepreneurs results 2022 are in!

The SESA Call for Entrepreneurs 2022 was a great success, with many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana, Malawi, Morocco, and South Africa applying with their innovative Productive Use of Energy (PUE) solutions. The official results from the competition can now be found in an infographic below, which provides an overview of the applicants by country and sector. The winners of the competition are set to receive funding ranging from €50,000 to €70,000 per business over 18 months. This funding will be used to validate selected proof of concepts and business models for upscaling....

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SESA First General Assembly and Regional Event: Creating together opportunities for economic development and social cohesion in Africa

SESA First General Assembly and Regional Event: Creating together opportunities for economic development and social cohesion in Africa

The past 25-28 October, 2022 the SESA consortium hosted its first General Assembly and Regional Event.  The visit took place in Nairobi and Kisumu (Kenya) and gathered 46 representatives from the organisations part of the initiative. The activities were divided into three main events: The General Assembly which took place from 25-26 October in Nairobi, where partners got together in person for the first time to share achieved milestones, engage in collaborative work and define next steps for the project. The first Regional event took place from 27-28 October in Kisumu, involving the launch...

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Calling Smart Energy Solutions in Ghana, Malawi, Morocco and South Africa

Calling Smart Energy Solutions in Ghana, Malawi, Morocco and South Africa

Siemens Stiftung on behalf of the Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA) Consortium is launching its first “SESA Call for Entrepreneurs”, targeting small and medium-sized enterprises with a focus on sustainable energy solutions in Ghana, Malawi, Morocco and South Africa. Women-led enterprises are particularly encouraged to apply.  Reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy access has been a challenge for rural communities in Africa. SESA, a European Commission-funded project, aims to test, validate and later replicate innovative solutions as well as business models to accelerate the...

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SESA launches capacity building plan: A cornerstone to support smart energy solutions projects for Africa

SESA launches capacity building plan: A cornerstone to support smart energy solutions projects for Africa

Capacity building forms a vital part of successful and sustainable climate action projects and initiatives in Africa. Understanding the context-specific capacity gaps and needs in an area can shed light on the most suitable route to take to build capacity and, in turn, ramp up the success of a project. For this reason, capacity needs assessments and capacity building planning activities are embedded in the Sustainable Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA) project.   The SESA project works to increase energy access in Africa, supporting the uptake of scalable and replicable energy access...

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Kenya Living Lab – Interview to Charles Ogalo

Kenya Living Lab – Interview to Charles Ogalo

What is the purpose of the Kenya Living Lab? And how are SESA actions going to be implemented there? The goal of the Kenyan living lab is to serve as a real-life test bed for piloting and testing innovative energy technologies and business models in rural and peri-urban contexts. The overall objective of the living lab is to test and provide sustainable energy access solutions that are relevant for both urbanized and rural contexts in Africa.  The living lab approach will be implemented by co-creating, testing and evaluating innovative technologies and business models with local users in...

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First SESA Toolbox milestone achieved

First SESA Toolbox milestone achieved

In addition to the energy-access solutions being developed and implemented at the living-lab sites themselves, the SESA Toolbox is one of the key outputs of the SESA project. It is not only a 'deliverable' by itself, but more importantly, its content will reflect the insights and learnings from many of the activities that will be undertaken by the many collaborating SESA partners. The toolbox will therefore contain information that is collected and created by all partners during the project’s development, implementation, and use of the solutions across the demonstration and validation sites....

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Building sustainable, secure and resilient energy systems at scale through local action

Building sustainable, secure and resilient energy systems at scale through local action

The past 29th June we had the pleasure to host our first session at World Urban Forum Eleventh Session in Katowice (Poland).  Building sustainable, secure and resilient energy systems at scale through local action gathered speakers from the SESA consortium and guests actively working on the topic. The moderation was in charge of SESA coordinator Giorgia Rambelli, Coordinator Climate Policy and Energy Governance, ICLEI European Secretariat; Lea Ranalder, Associate Programme Management Officer, UN-Habitat; Rana Adib, Executive Director, REN21; Rohit Sen, Head, Sustainable Energy ICLEI World...

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SESA at World Urban Forum 11th Session

SESA at World Urban Forum 11th Session

Building sustainable, secure and resilient energy systems at scale through local action Global warming brings harmful consequences to communities, and ecosystems around the world, and low carbon solutions to mitigate the effect of climate change, and increase the resilience of our communities are increasingly crucial. Incentivising community-owned RES is pivotal to securing energy access in remote vulnerable areas, helping the energy system to bounce back following extreme climate events, strengthening energy security, and increasing resilience to economic shocks. Implementing innovative...

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What are the SESA Living Labs?

What are the SESA Living Labs?

The SESA project involves a modular living lab demonstration action in Kenya, 4 validation demonstration projects in Morocco, Ghana, Malawi, and South Africa; and 4 replication demonstration projects in Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Nigeria. SESA draws upon thematic experts from Europe and Africa from relevant fields of application to provide insights and guidance to the support co-development of the living labs. Each site has an implementation plan, the guiding roadmap for the living lab to achieve its sustainability goals. The plans describe the context needs and innovative energy...

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Africities – Key Takeaways

Africities – Key Takeaways

By Stefanie Holzwarth from UN-Habitat   The Global Energy Demand Regardless of the source, energy is a major factor for development. It is needed for transport, industrial and commercial activities, buildings and infrastructure, water distribution, and food production. Most of these activities take place in or around cities, which are on average responsible for more than 75 per cent of a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and therefore the main engines of global economic growth. To run their activities, cities require an uninterrupted supply of energy. They consume about 75 per cent...

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SESA at Africities 2022

SESA at Africities 2022

SESA will be present at the 9th edition of Africities will be held between 17th to 21st May 2022 in Kisumu, Kenya with the theme “The Role of Intermediary Cities of Africa in the Implementation of Agenda 2030 of the United Nations and the African Union Agenda 2063”.  Africities is the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa’s flagship pan-African event that is held every three years in one of the five regions of Africa. The aim is to strengthen the role of local and regional governments in the development of the continent and to help build the integration and unity of Africa from its...

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SESA at the Energy research projects in cooperation with Africa workshop

SESA at the Energy research projects in cooperation with Africa workshop

The past 25th January the SESA Project participated in the First Energy research projects in cooperation with Africa workshop hosted by CINEA - European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency.  The event started with an overview of the policy context by Phillip Schild, Policy officer and Natalia Caldes, DG INTPA. Afterwards, each initiative had the chance to present their challenges and workplan for the upcoming years.  Giorgia Rambelli, Coordinator at ICLEI European Secretariat Brussels Office and SESA representative, shared with the participants the highlights of the our...

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SESA at the Energy research projects in cooperation with Africa workshop

SESA project – Smart Energy Solutions for Africa to accelerate the green transition and energy access

SESA is a new EU funded project under H2020 that aims at mitigating climate change while improving access to sustainable energy under affordable, reliable conditions.  SESA is a collaborative project between the EU and Africa that aims at providing energy access technologies and business models that are easily replicable and generate local opportunities for economic development and social cohesion in Africa. Through several local living labs, it is expected to facilitate the co-development of scalable and replicable energy access innovations, to be tested, validated, and later replicated...

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