ARE in Action: behind the scenes of the Global Gateway Forum
In the last year and beyond, the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) has been actively pushing for blended finance, equity, grants, and technical assistance at the EU level through its Global Gateway engagements.
As the leading association of the distributed renewable energy (DRE) sector, ARE makes sure that the interests of the DRE sector stay front and centre, and that it remains high on the Global Gateway agenda.
The Global Gateway Business Advisory Group
Recently, ARE CEO David Lecoque and Director of Policy and Business Development Jens Jæger brought the voice of the sector to the 5th Plenary GG BAG meeting with Koen Doens, Director-General for International Partnerships at the European Commission.
ARE will continue to be a key part of these meetings to keep DRE in the Global Gateway framework.
Interventions at side events of the Global Gateway Forum
On 7 Oct, Jens Jæger spoke at the side event “Investing in resilience: Why conflict and climate-sensitive infrastructure is key to Global Gateway’s success” organised by ECDPM. The discussion focused on conflict- and climate-sensitive infrastructure, drawing strong interest from participants.
On 8 Oct, David Lecoque spoke at the Practitioners’ Network Event on Global Gateway, contributing to an insightful discussion on “Energy Investments in Africa – How can European development organisations join forces with European companies to promote impactful investments in the energy sector?”
The Global Gateway Forum
ARE represented the DRE industry at the Forum, strengthening engagement with global leaders. During the event, David Lecoque connected with the World Bank President Ajay Banga, as well as key decision-makers from Africa, the EU, and around the world, alongside ARE Members.
David Lecoque also attended a high-level dinner with Jozef Síkela, Commissioner for International Partnerships at the European Commission, further strengthening the relationship with high-level EU officials.
Key takeaways from GG Forum
The Global Gateway Forum featured many exciting news! Here are some of the key takeaways for the DRE sector:
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced €618 million Team Europe package to accelerate Africa’s clean energy transition.
- The European Commission and EDFI announced the signing of three new guarantee agreements, aiming to mobilise private finance for development. The package will provide additional financial cover for €742 million, increasing the total guarantee capacity to €1.6 billion.
- The European Union and its Latin America and Caribbean Partners presented their plan to continue the fruitful Regional Electricity Integration initiative. The efforts aim to enhance grid efficiency, resilience, and security.
- The EU and Ethiopia announced an advanced partnership for more trade and investments at the Global Gateway Forum.
- The European Commission and World Bank Group committed to deepening their partnership for infrastructure and jobs.
