Ethiopian Informer
ADDIS ABABA (EI): The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) warned that progress on global sustainable energy goals remains “painfully uneven,” with approximately 600 million people across Africa still living without access to electricity, while energy poverty continues to severely hinder the continent’s development.
The call was made by Claver Gatete, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UNECA, at the 14th International Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development on October 28. The forum, held in Skopje, North Macedonia, convened under the theme “From Goals to Action: Powering the Future with Sustainable Energy,” the UNECA said in a statement.
Highlighting the urgent context of the fast-approaching 2030 deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Gatete stressed that the world is at a “decisive moment for our planet,” yet advancement on SDG 7—which aims to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy—is critically lagging in many regions.
The UNECA chief questioned the narrative of global progress by asking, “Can we truly speak of global progress when millions of African children continue to study by candlelight, when health centers still operate without power and when women cook with firewood?”
He asserted that for Africa, the shift to sustainable energy is inevitable, but it must be a just transition that powers development, creates jobs, and delivers dignity.
To realize this vision, the UNECA Executive Secretary outlined a four-point strategic plan.
Gatete emphasized that Africa must leverage its vast natural resources, noting the continent holds over 30 percent of global reserves of critical minerals – like lithium, cobalt, and manganese. He criticized the current practice of exporting raw materials, which exports jobs and economic value. Through the African Green Minerals Strategy, the ECA is supporting nations to move up the value chain by producing battery components, solar panels, and electric vehicles domestically.
He further called for strengthened regulatory frameworks to attract private investment. He cited successful examples in Kenya, with its geothermal breakthroughs, and Morocco, with its solar programs, as evidence that clear and predictable policies are essential for building investor confidence and transforming Africa’s abundant renewable resources into reliable power.
According to Gatete, the third accelerator involves stepping up innovation in rural electrification. He stated that energy must do more than light homes; it must power local industries and expand livelihoods. This will require new financing models that blend public and private capital and empower communities to own and control their energy systems.
The UN official further stressed the imperative of deepening global partnerships. He declared that no region can achieve SDG 7 alone and called for enhanced collaboration to de-risk investments and ensure climate finance flows to Africa at the required scale and cost. He highlighted the prohibitive cost of capital on the continent as a major barrier that must be overcome to ensure a fair global energy transition.
In this context, Gatete expressed optimism that the 14th International Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development would foster productive dialogue and lead to actionable outcomes aimed at accelerating progress toward achieving sustainable energy access for everyone, while ensuring a fair and inclusive transition.
(UNECA Photo shows Claver Gatete UN Under Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.)
