Embassy of Denmark in South Africa

Nomzamo Agricultural Village Implements Off-Grid Power Solution for Sustainable Development ⚡🌱 Thanks to the support of GreenCape’s Alternative Service Delivery Unit (ASDU), the Community Organisation Resource Centre (CORC), the Embassy of Denmark in South Africa, the New Zealand High Commission Pretoria, South Africa, the French Embassy, and Peco Power, the Nomzamo Agricultural Village is experiencing transformative change through a solar-powered off-grid energy solution. Through a collaborative co-design process, the community identified key priorities: home-level electrification, skills development, and area lighting. In response, Peco Power, a South African company specializing in solar-powered, modular, and stackable power bricks, was appointed to deliver on these needs. Peco Power not only provided reliable home electricity systems and solar-powered street lighting, but also played a vital role in creating local jobs and fostering skills development. Four full-time installers and two full-time salespeople (Peco Champions) were trained and recruited, empowering local talent and contributing to the village's economic growth. This initiative demonstrates how off-grid energy solutions can drive sustainable development, improve livelihoods, and create new opportunities for communities. Check out the video to learn more! 🔍 #Sustainability #ForOurPlanet #GreenTransition EU Environment and Climate Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères European External Action Service Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency Bigger Than Me Agence Française de Développement in Southern Africa Elsebeth Søndergaard Krone Philip Hewitt David Martinon Cecelia Kok Martin Deramond

🎥 Empowering communities through data-driven decision making 🌱 Dive into the Nomzamo Agricultural Village project in Mpumalanga, South Africa, where enumeration-enabled data has played a key role in driving community-led decision-making for alternative energy solutions. The leadership of Nomzamo mobilized residents to co-design a plan for their energy needs, resulting in a successful collaboration that has unlocked access to energy, jobs, skills development, and social impact. This initiative was made possible with the support of GreenCape's Alternative Service Delivery Unit (ASDU), the Community Organisation Resource Centre (CORC), the Embassy of Denmark in South Africa, the New Zealand High Commission and Peco Power. Key outcomes include: ➡ Training 30 part-time enumerators during the project’s enumeration phase ➡ Establishing two savings schemes for household and commercial lending ➡ Offering urban farming training and facilitating a learning exchange, leading to the sale of locally grown produce to a nearby retail outlet ➡ Providing leadership and small business training to community members This collaborative effort highlights the power of data-driven, community-led solutions in advancing energy transition and creating long-term socio-economic benefits. Check out the video to learn more! 🔍 #Sustainability #ForOurPlanet #GreenTransition EU Environment and Climate Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères European External Action Service Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency Bigger Than Me Agence Française de Développement in Southern Africa Elsebeth Søndergaard Krone Philip Hewitt Morten Holm van Donk Gabrielle Chin Reshmi Wolvers Miguel Isaac Thula Zondi Nicholas Fordyce Jack-Vincent Radmore David Martinon Cecelia Kok Martin Deramond

Empowering communities through solar energy 🌞 🇿🇦 The French Embassy in South Africa, in partnership with GreenCape, the Embassy of Denmark in South Africa, the New Zealand High Commission, CORC and Peco Power is proud to be part of a groundbreaking initiative, JETP related, in the Nomzamo Agricultural Village in Ermelo, Mpumalanga. Together, we’ve co-designed an innovative, affordable, and replicable solar energy solution that’s changing lives. Over 3️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ households now have access to solar-powered powerbricks, providing reliable and clean energy for lighting, charging devices, and other essential needs. 2️⃣0️⃣ solar streetlights have been installed throughout the village, improving safety, especially for women and children, and helping reduce crime at night. This project is a prime example of community-driven innovation. Through close collaboration with local leaders and stakeholders, we’ve been able to deliver an energy solution that’s not only sustainable but also scalable for other communities in need. We are proud to be part of this positive transformation and look forward to seeing the lasting impact of this initiative on the community's quality of life. 🎥 This is their story! #Sustainability #ForOurPlanet #GreenTransition EU Environment and Climate Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères European External Action Service Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency Bigger Than Me Agence Française de Développement in Southern Africa David Martinon Cecelia Kok Martin Deramond Elsebeth Søndergaard Krone Philip Hewitt Morten Holm van Donk Gabrielle Chin Reshmi Wolvers Miguel Isaac Thula Zondi Nicholas Fordyce Jack-Vincent Radmore

Denmark and South Africa share a longstanding partnership in renewable energy 💡🌬☀ Yesterday, we had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Velenkosini Hlabisa, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and Zandile Majozi House Chairperson of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), along with Jan Oberholzer, Chairman of Mulilo, to discuss South Africa’s energy challenges and infrastructure opportunities 💡🗝 In 2023, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), the largest Danish investor in South Africa, made a significant investment in Mulilo Energy Holding, the largest South African renewable energy developer 💥🌱 This partnership exemplifies the potential of Danish expertise and investments in assisting with South Africa’s green transition and securing a sustainable energy future♻ We already now see the direct results of CIP´s investments creating green energy, growth and local impact in communities around South Africa. For over a decade, Denmark and South Africa have also collaborated through a Strategic Sector Cooperation program on energy, focusing on wind energy and integrating renewables into South Africa’s energy grid 🌬⚡ The meeting reaffirmed our shared commitment to strengthening our energy collaboration and partnership within South Africa’s energy landscape 🗺 🙏 Thank you to all partners involved!

Human Rights meeting 🇿🇦🤝🇩🇰   This week, we had the pleasure engaging in a fruitful meeting on human rights with great colleagues from Department of International Relations and Cooperation.   Rasmus Bøgh Johansen and Hélène Fester from the Danish Human Rights Unit in Copenhagen joined us for a meaningful dialogue on how we can promote human rights internationally 🌍   The meeting provided a valuable platform to exchange perspectives on human rights, share our countries’ priorities, and deepen our understanding of current challenges globally 🕯

🎊MoU signing ceromoni 19-11-2024🎊 This week Elsebeth Søndergaard Krone, Ambassador of Denmark, and Anneline Morgan, Chief Director Department for Science, Technology and Innovation, signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding between Denmark and South Africa for research and innovation collaboration 🔮🔎 The new MoU will underpin possible future activities such as an expanded Masters programme collaboration as part of the Danish Government’s new Africa Strategy as well as the activities of an upcoming regional Innovation Center in Kenya which will also cover South Africa 🏢 The MoU further covers the unique research and innovation component included in the ongoing strategic sector cooperation in the water sector between the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Danish Environment Protection Agency and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs ✍ The partners are looking forward to furthering this fruitful collaboration!

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚’𝐬 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬💦   Busy days for the South African and Danish enhanced partnership in the water sector!   💡💧 On Monday, 18 November, the Danish Ambassador and team held a fruitful meeting with Department of Water and Sanitation Director-General Sean Phillips and his team to discuss priorities for the new 🇿🇦 🇩🇰 “Climate Resilient Urban Water Supply” programme. With an expected budget of DKK 300 million or approx. R770 million for 2025-2029, the programme will support South Africa’s water reform by focusing on the efficient management and use of scarce water resources. 💡💧 On 19 November, an important Steering Committee meeting took place as the national water strategic sector cooperation between 🇿🇦 and 🇩🇰 enters a crucial year of implementation phase.   DWS Deputy Director-General Lindiwe Lusenga and Deputy Director-General Dr. Risimati Mathye (PhD Civil Eng. IWRM) Pr Tech Eng. MSAICE, co-chair Jesper Hannibalsen from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, and Ambassador Elsebeth Søndergaard Krone provided valuable strategic guidance. To maintain a strong focus on delivering high-impact results for the water sector, the Steering Committee approved an updated results framework. Key results to follow include: 📜 Preparation of a new regulation on groundwater and water resource management. 🎓 Development of a brand-new education programme for South African borehole drillers. Thank you to everyone involved - we are excited to continue this important work together!

"11 ud af de 20 hurtigst voksende økonomier ligger i Afrika. Derfor er det vigtigt at påvirke udviklingen i 'en grønnere retning'" 🌱 Det gør vi igennem de danske sektorsamarbejder, påstår jeg i gårsdagens artikel i Mandag Morgen som omhandler Danmarks rolle i den kommende tids klimamøder under COP29 og G20. Som energirådgiver i Sydafrika arbejder jeg - sammen med gode kollegaer fra Embassy of Denmark in South Africa og i Danish Energy Agency på netop at gøre danske erfaringer på energiområdet relevante for Sydafrika☀️🌬️ DK kan som et lille land kun bidrage til at Sydafrika vælger den grønnere retning gennem et godt samarbejde, hvor vi gør os umage for at lytte og forstå udfordringerne ved den grønne omstilling her, så vi kan give relevante input. Netop det er kernen i energisamarbejdet mellem Energistyrelsen og sydafrikanske partnerinstitutioner, hvor vi arbejder med at skabe de langsigtede rammevilkår, som kan bidrage til mere tryghed, hvis man er investor eller teknologileverandør. 💬 “Et af hensynene fra sydafrikansk side er, at der tænkes jobs og beskæftigelse ind i omstillingen på grund af den høje arbejdsløshed, og fordi man er bange for, at den grønne omstilling vil koste jobs i kulminesektoren."

How do we ensure and enhance a risk based food safety system in South Africa? ✔ 🥇 That’s the goal of the partnership between South Africa’s Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, and Fødevarestyrelsen.   A key component in this is, to have all food businesses registered at the relevant authorities and to conduct inspections in a risk based manner, so that the resources used for inspection delivers the best result possible in terms of safe food. A few weeks ago, representatives from both countries came together for a week of workshops and presentations to address challenges in registration of food businesses and inspection data, and how to make sure the relevant data is present to help the inspection system to be more risk based 🔍   Together, we explored how a central registration system for food businesses in South Africa could be developed, drawing on Danish expertise and insights gathered about the South African context.   Key questions addressed included: 💡 Which food businesses should register? 💡 Where to register? 💡 What to register?   In December, our South African partners and the full team will reconvene to continue advancing this important work. Here we will focus in more detail on which information should be registered about different food businesses in order to be able to plan and conduct inspection risk based, and use the data in relation to food safety management of concrete issues.   Watch the video to learn more about the collaboration and the goals we aim to achieve 🎬

A new milestone in the South-African - Danish energy collaboration💡 For the first time ever, Forsyningstilsynet - Danish Utility Regulator visited South Africa to attend a meeting together with the Danish Energy Agency (DEA) and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa NERSA - RSA to initiate the tri-party cooperation as a new element to the 🇿🇦-🇩🇰 Energy Partnership Program. The goal of the week was to gather input, scope and plan the work of the two energy regulator’s partnership. And the sharing of experiences between the regulators was indeed fruitful from the very first day. It sets the scene for a future cooperation which can support and bring new experiences to both NERSA and DUR within implementation of the ERA and a number of specific identified regulatory tasks🤝 💬 “An energy regulator will never reach an end state - there will always be new developments to adapt to, whether you are an energy regulator in South Africa or in Denmark" said Bue Tidemann from DEA on the first day of the workshop. ➡️Exactly therefore is it essential to continuously share experiences - both good and bad - among energy regulators across borders. 🤓👩💻 Energy regulators plays a big role in overseeing the electricity market, ensure confidence in the market and protect the interest of the consumers. Balancing this is not an easy task, but NERSA is building the capacity and has the mandate.