On March 26, 2025, the “Energy Efficiency for Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa” (EELA) Program, implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), was officially launched at the Sweden House in Vienna. The event was hosted by Her Excellency Ms. Annika Lisa Markovic, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sweden to UNIDO and brought together high-level representatives from the program’s partner organizations, including Mr. Gerd Müller, Director General of UNIDO, Ms. Rana Ghoneim, Chief of the Energy and Climate Action Division of UNIDO, Ms. Karin Reiss-Haimbala, EELA Program Manager of UNIDO, Mr. Benson Munyaradzi, Chief Director at Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Ms. Caroline Bastholm, Advisor and Program Manager at Swedish Power Africa, Sida, and Mr. Niclas Carlsson, Head of International Business Development at the Swedish Energy Agency.
Building on the foundation of the EELA Project, which has been successfully implemented since 2019 in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and East African Community (EAC) regions, the newly scaled-up EELA Program now extends its reach to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and introduces a broader spectrum of synergistic energy efficiency interventions, promising transformative impacts at both regional and national levels. Aligned with UNIDO’s Regional Approach For Africa, EELA emphasizes harmonized action across continental, regional and national frameworks, leveraging sustainable energy as a key driver for growth and climate action. Fully aligned with the AfCFTA's goals, the Africa Union Industrialization Strategy, and Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, and implemented under the umbrella of the UNIDO African Regional Strategy, EELA advances initiatives that reduce environmental impact, create green jobs, foster inclusive economic development, and promote gender equality.
Among the interventions currently under development through the EELA Program, introduced during the event, is the Industrial Clean-Tech Platform (ICTP), a digital infrastructure designed to accelerate the adoption of energy efficiency technologies and solutions, fostering partnerships, and stimulating investment. Hosted by partnering manufacturing associations, this one-stop-shop platform will offer African industries with access to innovative technologies at competitive prices, along with investment planning tools and catalytic grants to support technology adoption as well as private sector collaboration.
