• 45 energy officials from AU Member States begin week-long training in Nairobi

• Initiative led by AFREC Executive Director Rashid Ali Abdallah with support from Sweden (SIDA) and Strathmore University

• Second cohort to follow in Cairo in December, expanding participation to over 80 officials from 45+ countries

The African Energy Commission (AFREC) has launched a new continental training programme in Nairobi aimed at helping African countries turn renewable energy concepts into bankable, buildable projects. The initiative seeks to accelerate the shift from policy commitments to operational capacity at a time when countries need stronger pipelines to meet their energy transition goals.

The first session brought together 45 officials from energy ministries across Africa for a week-long, practice-oriented curriculum covering planning, financing, procurement, grid integration, and project management. Supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and delivered with the Strathmore Energy Research Centre (SERC), the training includes short lectures, case studies, group work, and a field visit to Kenya’s Olkaria Geothermal Power Plant. According to the press release, a second cohort will convene in Cairo from 15–19 December, bringing total participation to over 80 decision-makers from more than 45 countries in 2025, with scale-up planned for 2026 via AFREC’s e-learning platform.

“We are accelerating the path from policy to pipelines and from pipelines to megawatts,” said AFREC Executive Director Rashid Ali in the organization’s statement. Abdallah, adding that the training provides “the tools, a trusted peer network, and hands-on practice to turn promising ideas into financeable and operable projects.” Kenya’s Director of Renewable Energy, Dan Marangu, noted that “building the skills to pursue energy sovereignty is essential for Africa’s development.”

At the same time, Sweden’s Counsellor Ulrika Åkesson stressed the importance of intra-African learning. By strengthening technical skills, promoting peer learning, and improving project bankability, the programme is expected to support countries in attracting investment, expanding access to affordable clean energy, and advancing continental goals under Agenda 2063.

Early figures underline the scale and ambition of the initiative: 45 energy officials from across AU Member States are participating in the Nairobi training. At the same time, the December cohort in Cairo will bring together more than 80 decision-makers from over 45 countries. This effort builds on Strathmore Energy Research Centre’s track record of training more than 5,000 renewable energy professionals. At the same time, AFREC continues to close data and policy capacity gaps. In 2021, it trained 338 energy statisticians and 40 trainers under its national energy-information programme, supporting 10 Member States in developing robust energy information systems.

By Cynthia Ebot Takang