The Energy Efficiency for Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa (EELA) Program, implemented by UNIDO and funded by the Government of Sweden, is pleased to announce the expansion of its operations to the MENA region. The milestone was unveiled at the International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum (IVECF), during the EELA Deep Dive session "Accelerating Clean Industrial Technology Pathways to Strengthen Prosperity, Security and Stability in Africa". The announcement was made jointly by Karin Reiss-Haimbala, EELA Program Manager, and Nadia Chioukh, Director of International Cooperation at the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), an intergovernmental organisation with diplomatic status, headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

With this agreement, RCREEE becomes the fourth regional centre to partner with EELA, joining EACREEE, ECREEE and SACREEE, the three African Regional Centres for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency that have worked alongside the programme since its inception. Together, these centres have been instrumental in driving policy harmonization, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and building the market conditions needed for energy-efficient, climate-resilient economies across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The inclusion of RCREEE extends this model to the MENA region, creating a coordinated continental architecture spanning Sub-Saharan Africa and the North Africa and Middle East regions. This alignment will enable deeper cross‑regional cooperation and facilitate the exchange of regulatory and technical best practices. It will also help consolidate and expand investment opportunities by giving policymakers, private‑sector actors, and financiers a more unified framework for action.

This announcement represents the culmination of months of joint preparation by EELA and RCREEE teams. “This milestone marks an important new chapter for EELA,” said Reiss‑Haimbala. “The engagement of MENA countries will enable the programme to advance resilient, inclusive, and sustainable energy transitions, while driving technology integration and market development. We are excited to enter this new phase of collaboration with RCREEE and extend our sincere gratitude to the Government of Sweden, EELA’s donor, for its unwavering support”.

“We are delighted to join forces with EELA”, stated Chioukh. “This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to advancing energy efficiency and clean energy solutions across regions. By working closely with EELA and the African regional centres, we see a valuable opportunity to strengthen cross‑regional cooperation and accelerate the deployment of sustainable, low‑carbon technologies. We look forward to learning from the other centres and contributing RCREEE’s regional expertise to building impactful partnerships that support inclusive and resilient energy transitions across the MENA region and beyond”.

The collaboration between EELA and RCREEE will initially focus on regional‑level activities, aimed at strengthening coordination, knowledge exchange, and technical cooperation across regions. At a later stage, the partnership will progressively extend to country‑specific actions, replicating the Country Window model already implemented through EELA Kenya, EELA Zambia, and EELA Zimbabwe, and expanding it to additional pilot countries.