What we are doing
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is the fastest urbanizing region in the world and this trend is projected to double over the next 25 years. However, its energy systems face an enormous challenge. The region has the lowest electricity generation capacity with access for only 35% of its population, and experiences the most acute forms of energy poverty in the world. Compounding these challenges, the regions is highly vulnerability to climate change impacts, which means traditional pathways to increasing energy supply, based on the burning of fossil fuels, will become increasingly unviable.
The main objective of the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan African (CoM SSA) project is to increase the capacities of cities in SSA to provide access to sufficient, sustainable and safe energy and related services to urban and peri-urban populations (specially the poor), with special attention to energy efficiency and renewable energy as drivers for local low emission, climate resilient, sustainable development. Under the CoM SSA local governments are invited to make a voluntarily political commitment to implement climate and energy and agree on a long-term vision to tackle 3 pillars, including access to energy, climate mitigation and climate adaptation.
Through the project, capacities of SSA cities and local governments will be strengthen to formulate and implement their action plans and road maps for energy, mobility and spatial organization. Furthermore, legal and institutional frameworks of local governments are expected to be improved as well as their technical and resource mobilization capacities. The project will also foster political ownership and dissemination of best practices, leveraging principles of and connections with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM).
Read more
Read less
How we are tracking
Number of cities becoming CoM SSA signatories;
Number of dialogues with actors in different level of governance (national, regional, etc.) organised;
Number of cities having developed one of the following steps towards the full elaboration of an action plan (SEACAP): a) Baseline emissions inventory, b) Risk and Vulnerabilities Assessment, c) Access to Energy Assessment, d) Energy profiling;
Number of SEACAPs drafted by the CoM SSA cities;
Number of national associations of local authorities mobilised in CoM SSA activities;
Number of pilot cities that received a tailored Technical Assistance;
Number of participants that benefited from CoM SSA capacity development & advocacy activities (all beneficiaries: signatories, associations of local governments, civil society organisations, academia, etc.)
Read more
Read less
What we are achieving
Through this project, ICLEI as a leading member of the implementing consortium leads the work package set up to help enhance institutional frameworks through political advocacy and networking. ICLEI leads the project’s support to address legal and institutional frameworks and promote multilevel governance in pilot countries to provide an enabling environment for local and national governments to coordinate and streamline their urban planning and relevant priority sector activities. To this end, ICLEI establishes dialogues (including Talanoa dialogues) and explores partnerships and networking opportunities with political leaders at all levels and leveraging on its role as focal point to the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) constituency of the UN Climate Change and the Friends of Cities group.
ICLEI also provides technical expertise to the local governments in the development of their Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plans (SEACAPs); supports the project’s work to enhance local climate finance and supports the project’s communication and awareness raising activities.
Read more
Read less
