Advancing SDG7 in Africa - Europe Africa partnership
Europe remains a major partner in financing sustainable energy in Africa, contributing EUR 20.67 billion to SDG7 (affordable and clean energy) between 2014–2023. While progress has been made, a recent report identifies gaps and areas for improvement.
Europe remains a key partner in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) in Africa, supporting a wide range of clean energy and energy access initiatives. This is highlighted in the fourth edition of the Africa-EU Energy Partnership’s flagship report, “European Financial Flows to SDG7 in Africa”, which analyses financing trends over the period 2014–2023.
SDG7 aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030. Achieving this goal depends heavily on the scale and effectiveness of financial flows and investments directed toward the energy sector.
According to the report, European Union institutions and member states committed EUR 20.67 billion to affordable and clean energy in Africa over the past decade. Most of these funds have been directed toward renewable energy, transmission and distribution infrastructure, as well as policy development and capacity building. However, investment in energy efficiency and clean cooking remains comparatively limited.
Multilateral institutions have also played a significant role, with the International Development Association (IDA) leading contributions and showing steady growth over time. At the same time, African countries themselves remain the largest contributors overall, allocating approximately EUR 116 billion to the energy sector over the same period. These efforts are complemented by policy reforms aimed at improving governance and enabling greater private sector participation. However, domestic financing is constrained by high debt levels and limited revenue generation, underscoring the need for stronger domestic resource mobilisation.
Private sector investment has also contributed to SDG7 progress. The report notes that EUR 16.03 billion in private finance was mobilised over the decade through risk-sharing and blended finance instruments, including EUR 4.24 billion supported by European institutions and member states.
Despite these efforts, progress toward achieving affordable and clean energy remains too slow to meet the 2030 target. The report identifies key gaps and outlines pathways to accelerate progress, including scaling up investment, improving policy frameworks, and enhancing coordination among stakeholders.
Download and read the report here: https://africa-eu-energy-partnership.org/publications/european-financia…