ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA – 9 September 2025 – Development Reimagined (DR) successfully convened an official side event during the Africa Climate Summit 2 (ACS2), titled “From Pledges to Progress: Implementing China’s Support for Africa’s Green Industrialisation.”
The event drew over 65 participants — 40 in-person and 25 online — representing renewable energy companies, investors, nonprofits, and government agencies. Together, they explored how the FOCAC 9 Green Development Partnership — including the pledge to deliver 30 clean energy and green development projects — can be translated into tangible outcomes aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Common African Position on Energy Access and Just Transition.
Flagship Report Launched: Financing Africa’s Green Future
At the event, DR officially launched its 2025 flagship report, “Scaling Up Implementation of FOCAC 9 Green Energy Projects: Proposals and Financing Models.”
Ms. Yike Fu, DR’s Climate Program Manager, and Ms. Yunong Wu, Climate Action Specialist, presented key findings from the report.
Between 2010 and 2021, China committed USD 18.6 billion to Africa’s renewable energy sector, with 90% directed to hydropower projects. Since 2023, however, solar and wind projects have surged, now representing nearly two-thirds of new Chinese-financed renewable projects.
To guide investors, the report identifies 42 bankable projects across Africa, divided into three clusters:
- Cluster A: Small-scale projects (e.g., solar mini-grids) – suitable for grants and zero-interest loans.
- Cluster B: Utility-scale solar and wind projects – best served by Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) blending concessional finance with private equity.
- Cluster C: Cross-border transmission lines and emerging technologies (e.g., green hydrogen) – requiring large-scale concessional lending and blended finance from public, private, and multilateral sources.
Strategic recommendations include de-risking investment, improving project bankability, leveraging blended finance mechanisms, and strengthening project preparation to accelerate the clean energy transition.
Expert Roundtable: Financing the Green Future Together
The panel discussion, moderated by DR Development Finance Advisor Ms. Etsehiwot Kebret, featured diverse perspectives from key stakeholders:
- He Kaihui, Counsellor for Science and Technology at the Mission of China to the AU, highlighted China’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in science, technology, and innovation. He referenced alignment with AU’s STISA-2024 and STISA-2034 strategies and key cooperation frameworks such as the Belt and Road Science and Technology Project and the FOCAC Beijing Action Plan (2025–2027).
- Zhang Jianyu, Chief Development Officer of the BRI Green Development Coalition (BRIGC), emphasized BRIGC’s role in fostering multi-stakeholder participation and policy alignment in China–Africa renewable energy cooperation. He highlighted China’s RMB 100 million pledge to the African Solar Belt Project, providing solar energy access to over 50,000 households, and introduced mechanisms like the Green Investment and Finance Partnership (GIFP) to overcome financing barriers.
- Kevin Gao, Special Advisor on International Partnerships at the African Climate Foundation (ACF), underscored the need for capacity building and robust project preparation to shorten the typical 4–10 year gap between investment planning and project construction. He advocated for blended finance and “ODA-plus-investment” models that incorporate social impact and just transition considerations.
- Shen Chen, President of East & South Africa Regional Headquarters at Energy China (participating online), positioned the region as the “next engine of global growth and future green power exporter.” He outlined Energy China’s four strategic roles — think tank, EPC contractor, investor, and low-carbon innovator — and proposed a “4-in-1 cross-border collaboration model” integrating planning, project incubation, financial enablement, and standards alignment.
- Jacqueline Mando, COO of Clean Tech Hub Nigeria, stressed the critical role of women leaders and young entrepreneurs in Africa’s clean energy transition. She proposed scalable mechanisms for collaboration with Chinese partners, such as Women-in-Clean-Tech exchange programs, co-innovation initiatives, and a China-Africa Innovation Fund to provide seed capital for early-stage businesses.
The diverse perspectives converged on the imperative for cross-institutional and cross-border collaboration to create more effective financing and implementation mechanisms, ensuring that initiatives like the FOCAC Green Development Partnership are fully realised.
This side event is part of DR’s ongoing series of events under the theme “The Green Catalyst Series: Investing in Africa’s Sustainable Growth”, dedicated to advancing Africa–China cooperation on climate and development. Previous high-impact events include:
- “Investing in Zambia’s Green Growth: Matchmaking Renewable Energy and Environmental Goods Manufacturing Opportunities” in Hangzhou.
- “China–Africa Energy Dialogue: Africa’s Energy Transition and Sustainable Development” bringing together policymakers and investors.
- “China–Africa Green Dialogue: From Yunnan to Africa – Collaborating for a Just Green Transition and Global Climate Solutions” in Kunming.
As an African-led, women-led consultancy headquartered in Beijing with offices in Kenya and the UK, Development Reimagined remains at the forefront of shaping actionable solutions to align FOCAC outcomes with Africa’s Agenda 2063 vision of a prosperous, integrated, and sustainable continent.
DR Climate Action & Development Finance team in ACS2
The event concluded with a strong call for continued collaboration to align FOCAC outcomes with the AU’s Agenda 2063 goals, fostering an enhanced understanding of how African countries can integrate green goals into their national and regional development strategies while effectively engaging Chinese support.
For media and partnership inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Yike Fu
Climate Program Manager, Development Reimagined，
