On 24 September 2025, the African Regional Youth Forum on Energy and Just Transition convened during UNGA80 — bringing together policymakers, development partners, and young innovators to explore how Africa can scale clean, inclusive energy systems.
Delivering the keynote address, Sarbojit Pal (Program Manager, Global Matchmaking Platform Secretariat, Energy and Climate Action Division, UNIDO) reminded participants that youth make up 60% of Africa’s population and must be engaged not as passive beneficiaries but as co-creators of solutions. He spotlighted UNIDO’s Clean Technology Innovation Centres — eight of which are in Africa — and previewed the Youth Day at UNIDO’s upcoming 2025 General Conference, dedicated to youth education and empowerment in the energy sector.
I had the privilege to moderate the high-level panel on overcoming barriers to scaling clean energy projects in Africa, joined by leading practitioners across the public and private sectors:
- Habiba Ali, Managing Director & CEO, SOSAI Renewable Energies Company, underscored the financing gap and the confusion caused by inconsistent policy environments.
- Johanna Galan, MBA, Senior Energy Specialist, World Bank & Coordinator, Mission 300 Implementation Unit, spoke to doubling energy investment by 2030 and using concessional finance to catalyze private-sector participation through national energy compacts.
- Maria Michela Morese, Energy Team Leader & Senior Natural Resources Officer, FAO, highlighted the energy–agriculture nexus and called for policy stability to attract investment, local market development, and recognition of youth innovators through initiatives such as the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) and FAO’s new youth award.
Across the discussion, a few themes resonated deeply:
- Financing & Equity: Africa needs blended and concessional financing to derisk early ventures and create equity funds focused on job creation.
- Policy Coherence: Stable, predictable policy is essential for attracting investment and scaling clean-energy solutions that intersect with agriculture, food systems, and local economies.
- Market Access & Local Value: Supporting local agricultural and energy solutions creates resilient, job-rich ecosystems.
- Youth as Builders: With Africa’s demographic dividend, young entrepreneurs and innovators must be trusted with resources, platforms, and policy influence.
Watch the conversation here: [Link to the video Coming Soon]
This session reaffirmed why youth-centered innovation must shape Africa’s just transition — from renewable energy to food systems — and why the global community must go beyond dialogue to mobilize capital, reform policy, and unlock markets where young creators can thrive.
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