Scaling-up efforts towards Paris alignment and supporting the SDGs in the Africa-EU Strategic Partnership

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis show how interdependent Europe and Africa are, and why it is important that both continents act together to seize shared opportunities and tackle common challenges. Africa and Europe have a shared interest in accelerating the progress of the global agenda for sustainable development, fuelled by the need to rethink a common future.

A 2020 European Union Joint Communication – Towards a Comprehensive Strategy with Africa – proposes five thematic partnerships, including one on green transition and energy access. As parties prepare for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, in November 2021, a more targeted EU-Africa green finance partnership is needed, with a strategic long-term plan that aligns with a climate strategy. This climate strategy can be achieved by addressing existing barriers to sustainable finance in Africa, including targeting public funding and attracting private sector in climate-resilient investments through an improved policy and regulatory environment. It will also be achieved through market-based mechanisms that incentivize private sector investments in mitigation and adaption projects.

This webinar – organized by the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), Green Finance Platform and the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) – will focus on scaling up efforts towards Paris alignment and supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals in the Africa-EU Strategic Partnership. Agenda 2063 goals on climate resilient economies and taking responsibility for finance address this important topic, as well as how Africa sees itself engaging internationally, and its approach to development funding.

Webinar discussion themes will include:

Green transition: towards a low-carbon, resource efficient and climate-resilient future

- How to enhance the financing of nature-based solutions to climate change mitigation and adaptation in African countries

- How accountants can unlock the barriers to transition for a circular economy in Africa

- How the EU can support integrated national financing frameworks to optimize a sustainable development strategy in Africa

- How debt-for-climate swaps could stimulate investment in climate smart technologies

- The role of ESG Ratings, Sustainability and Integrated Reporting and in guiding investments

Sustainable energy and energy efficiency

- How to accelerate private investments in the African green energy sector

- How to integrate renewables into national and regional energy plans

- How policy incentives can accelerate the implementation of a clean energy transition

- How to manage a socially just transition away from fossil fuels towards clean energy alternatives in Africa

11.00am - Welcome by Helen Brand, Chief Executive, ACCA

11.10am - Mervyn E. King, Judge Professor

11.20am - Flora Mutahi, Member of the UN Global Compact Board as well as Founder & CEO, Melvin Marsh International Limited

11.30am - Panel moderated by Green Finance platform Nicole Martens, Head of Africa , UNPRI

• Domenico Rosa, head of Unit, Strategic Partnerships with Africa and with the ACP, European Commission
• Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, Head of Sustainability, Access Bank, Nigeria
• Atef Marzouk, Acting Director for Infrastructure and Energy, African Union Commission
• Dr. Ndidi Nnoli Edozien, Co-Chair, Private Sector Advisory Group on SDGs/ Chair, Circular Economy Innovation Partnership Africa

12.25pm - Q&As

12.35pm - Concluding remarks Alta Prinsloo, CEO of PAFA

12.45pm - End

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