The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone, has officially launched the second Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA) Investment Forum. The event aims to mobilise large-scale investments to advance Africa’s energy transition and accelerate green industrialisation.
Held over two days from 22–23 October 2025 at the Freetown International Conference Centre, the forum brings together energy ministers, international finance institutions, investors, developers, and APRA partner countries. Delegates engage in high-level policy discussions and technical sessions designed to unlock capital for renewable energy projects across the continent.
Forum Highlights
The APRA Investment Forum features investor matchmaking sessions and a project exhibition platform, connecting African renewable developers with global financial institutions. This comes shortly after IRENA reported that Africa accounted for only 1.6% of new installed renewable energy capacity in 2024, highlighting the urgent need to accelerate investments.
Key Statements
IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera stressed the need to close the investment gap:
“Renewables have become the most affordable source of power generation, yet Africa’s potential remains largely untapped. We must urgently remove financial barriers and ensure affordable capital reaches viable projects,” he said.
Hon. Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, Chairman of Sierra Leone’s Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, highlighted the forum’s role in national and regional energy strategies:
“APRA is a critical initiative for African countries to accelerate renewable deployment and achieve SDG 7. Sierra Leone is proud to host the summit as we work to increase our renewable energy share from 46% to 52% under the Mission 300 Compact.”
Strategic Impact
Building on the success of its inaugural edition in Nairobi—which facilitated a project pipeline worth USD 2.7 billion and identified around 1 GW of renewable capacity—this year’s forum aims to further enhance investment readiness, support project implementation, and accelerate energy transition efforts across APRA member countries.
The APRA Investment Forum reinforces Africa’s growing role in the global renewable energy agenda and demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainable energy development across the continent.
