The convener of the Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI) has disclosed that, its Mission 300 initiative, aimed at providing clean energy access to 300 million Africans by 2030, has benefitted Togo, Mauritania, and Ghana, where distributed renewable energy solutions such as mini-grids, are significantly expanding energy access to rural and underserved communities.
This coincides with its Unstoppable Africa 2024 Executive Summary report released at the weekend, where it shed light on transformative strategies and solutions to reshape Africa’s financial narrative and accelerate economic growth.
Reacting to this development, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the UN Global Compact, Sanda Ojiambo said, the vital role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa’s energy transition is stressed, along with the need to empower these enterprises by bridging gaps in finance and climate action knowledge.
“The GABI 2024 Executive Summary captures the transformative outcomes of the highly successful ‘Unstoppable Africa’ event, reflecting the groundbreaking solutions and impactful discussions that transpired. This event has played a crucial role in bringing together key stakeholders to discuss and align on these transformative strategies.
“By highlighting key initiatives and partnerships, this report underscores our commitment to positioning Africa at the center of global economic transformation. It is not just a reflection of our progress but a call to action for continued collaboration and ambition. We believe that by aligning with the aspirations of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063, we can unlock the full potential of Africa and contribute to a prosperous future for all,” he pointed out.
The report highlights GABI’s call for the development of an inclusive financing model to address Africa’s unique challenges, focusing on concessional financing, attracting private sector investment and mobilising domestic resources as essential mechanisms to unlock the continent’s potential. The report also stressed the importance of African institutions taking the lead in changing global risk perceptions and supporting innovative financial solutions to de-risk projects and secure long-term investments.
In its third year, GABI’s annual flagship event, Unstoppable Africa, has firmly established itself as the premier Africa-focused event in New York during the United Nations General Assembly high-level opening week, drawing interest and participation from global leaders.
To this end, the GABI will convene the 4th edition of Unstoppable Africa on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York City on Sunday and Monday 21-22 September 2025. The convening is expected to bring together the private sector, governments, policymakers, global and regional stakeholders to develop actionable frameworks for Africa’s development.
Additionally, GABI plans on hosting several GABI Bridges events throughout the year, including a side event at the Africa CEO Forum on May 12 -13 Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire as these engagements will provide focused discussions on specific topics, building up to the flagship forum in September.