On 24 September 2025, during the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), the African Regional Youth Forum on Energy and Just Transition convened policymakers, development partners, and young innovators to explore how Africa can scale clean, inclusive energy systems.
Delivering the keynote address, Sarbojit Pal (Program Manager, Global Matchmaking Platform Secretariat, Energy and Climate Action Division, UNIDO) reminded participants that youth make up 60% of Africa’s population and must be engaged not as passive beneficiaries but as co-creators of solutions. He highlighted UNIDO’s Clean Technology Innovation Centres — eight of which are located across Africa — and announced the upcoming Youth Day at UNIDO’s 2025 General Conference, dedicated to education and empowerment in the energy sector.
Moderating the high-level panel, Nthanda Manduwi (Founder & Managing Director, Ntha Foundation; CEO, Q2 Corporation) guided a conversation on overcoming barriers to scaling clean energy ventures in Africa. The panel featured leading voices across the public and private sectors:
- Habiba Ali — Managing Director & CEO, SOSAI Renewable Energies Company — underscored the persistent financing gap and the confusion created by inconsistent policy environments.
- Johanna Galan, MBA — Senior Energy Specialist, World Bank & Coordinator, Mission 300 Implementation Unit — spoke on the need to double energy investment by 2030 and use concessional finance to catalyze private-sector participation through national energy compacts.
- Maria Michela Morese — Energy Team Leader & Senior Natural Resources Officer, FAO — highlighted the energy–agriculture nexus, calling for policy stability, local market development, and recognition of youth innovators through initiatives such as the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) and FAO’s new youth award.
- Simon Benmarraze — Head of Energy Planning & Modelling, IRENA — encouraged youth to leverage the IRENA Youth Network, remain ambitious, and creatively deploy financing instruments — including grants for first-time entrepreneurs.
Emerging Themes
Financing & Equity — Africa needs blended and concessional financing to de-risk early ventures and create equity funds focused on job creation.
Policy Coherence — Predictable, stable policy environments are essential to attract long-term investment and scale clean energy systems.
Market Access & Local Value — Supporting local agricultural and energy solutions creates resilient, job-rich ecosystems.
Youth as Builders — With Africa’s demographic dividend, young entrepreneurs and innovators must be trusted with resources, platforms, and policy influence.
🎥 Watch the conversation here: [Link to the video]
This session underscored that Africa’s energy future cannot be built without its youth — not as observers, but as architects. It challenged global actors to move beyond dialogue and commit to mobilizing capital, reforming policy, and unlocking markets where young creators can thrive.
