Transforming Africa: Leadership, Green Infrastructure, and High-Level Meetings 2024

Welcome to Leading Africa Forward, our monthly newsletter featuring insightful conversations about corporate leadership and entrepreneurship in Africa, focusing on how to drive inclusive and sustainable growth on the continent. We will also showcase trailblazing female leaders at the helm of impactful change on the continent and share updates on our activities. 

Green Infrastructure Development: An Emerging Opportunity for African Businesses

Green infrastructure in Africa aims to accelerate climate action by developing climate-resilient infrastructure across the continent. This includes projects focused on renewable energy, such as green hydrogen, sustainable transport solutions like e-mobility, and solar or hybrid energy systems for heavy industry and logistics.

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are transforming African green infrastructure development, unlocking substantial opportunities for African business leaders, and driving sustainable growth. By combining resources, expertise, and innovation, PPPs address the continent's most critical environmental challenges and advance the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

 According to the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa -Project Development (AGIA-PD), the estimated investment gap in green infrastructure in Africa is about $150 billion annually. PPPs are increasingly seen as a vital solution to closing this gap. Notable examples of such partnerships currently include Kenya’s Lake Turkana Wind Power Project, Morocco's Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex, and The Desert to Power Initiative in the Sahel region, led by the African Development Bank.

The emerging trends in green infrastructure development through public-private partnerships (PPPs) offer African business leaders significant opportunities to consider, such as:

1. Investment in Renewable Energy: Finance and develop solar, wind, and hydro projects to enhance energy access, profitability, and job creation.

2. Innovation in Green Technologies: Drive R&D in clean tech, create new startups, and improve sustainability in existing businesses.

3. Sustainable Urban Development: Engage in eco-friendly construction, smart cities, and green transport, offering new market avenues.

4. Access to Global Funding and Markets: Attract international investment for sustainable projects, opening doors to global markets and enhancing global competitiveness.

5. Brand Value and Supply Chain Optimization: Strengthen corporate reputation through sustainable practices and establish cost-effective, efficient supply chains.

6. Leveraging Government Incentives: Take advantage of tax breaks, subsidies, and supportive policies for green initiatives, fostering diversification into green markets.

These opportunities offer a great blend of making a positive impact and profit, enabling business leaders to propel growth, innovation, and Africa's shift towards a more sustainable future.

UPCOMING EVENTS

United Nations General Assembly High-level Meetings, New York 2024

We will be at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York from September 23rd-27th. 

As an accredited organisation, we’ll join global leaders at the Summit of the Future to refocus on achieving global SDG objectives and addressing emerging challenges and opportunities. The convening will agree to a Pact for the Future covering, among others, sustainable development and financing, international peace and security, and transforming global governance; and will produce a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations as annexes. 

Our Programme:

• Side Event during the Summit of the Future: We are partnering with UN Women/Generation Equality, Women in AI Ethics, Graduate Women International, and Southern Africa Embrace Foundation on a virtual side session organised by Women in Philanthropy & Impact Africa (WIPIA). Speakers include: Helene Molinier ; Patrice Wellesley-Cole ; Mia Shah-Dand ; Dr. Sindy Zemura -Bernard
• WIPIA Launch: Women in Philanthropy and Impact Africa (WIPIA) is a groundbreaking initiative focused on driving social and economic change across the country under the auspices of AWCN. To join and learn more about the initiative, click here
• We'll also be at the Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI), Goals House, and convene our community for an opportunity to network.

What is AWCN?

We are a community of women leading businesses. This peer network helps women combat the “lonely-at-the-top" syndrome by supporting their professional growth through the provision of bespoke leadership development and access to business opportunities. Click here to join us To participate in our events, subscribe to our newsletter and follow Africa Women CEOs Network on LinkedIn.