Position Statement on the Inclusion of Civil Society Organizations in the AfDB Annual Meetings

The 58^th Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) was held on May 22-26 2023, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. The theme was, ‘Mobilizing Private Sector Financing for Climate and Green Growth in Africa’. The AfDB’s Ten Year Strategy (2013-2022) has identified “Light up and power Africa” as a key priority initiative. AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina stated during the Annual Meetings 2023 that Africa, “should have a just and fair energy transition [with] energy access, affordability, and security for Africa”.

The Alliance of Civil Society Organizations for Clean Energy Access (ACCESS Coalition), a global coalition of more than 100 organizations dedicated to advancing clean energy access, welcomes AfDB continued investment in the energy sector. During the meeting, the Africa Investment Forum showcased four deals on green and renewable energy worth $1.475 billion to investors.1 ACCESS Coalition calls on the AfDB to provide detailed information on how these investments will accelerate progress on a just energy transition, including providing energy access to underserved communities, and how communities and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) will be involved in their design and delivery.