EELA at SADC Sustainable Energy Week 2026

The Energy Efficiency for Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa (EELA) Program is pleased to participate in the SADC Sustainable Energy Week 2026 (SEW 2026), contributing to ongoing regional efforts to place energy efficiency at the centre of Africa’s development agenda.

The theme of this second edition of SADC Sustainable Energy Week, "Driving Regional Economic Growth through Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency, strongly resonates with the EELA’s mandate and ongoing work since the project’s launch in 2019. Over the years, EELA has supported partner countries in advancing energy efficiency as a practical pathway towards sustainable development, industrial competitiveness and climate resilience.

Aligned with SEW’s objective to harness energy efficiency as a lever for strengthening standards and enforcement systems, EELA will share its experience in supporting policies and initiatives that promote sustainable, inclusive and competitive economic growth across the continent.

EELA SIDE EVENT AT SADC SEW 2026 (Session 6A)
24 FEBRUARY 2026
09:00 am – 10:30 pm CAT

"EELA Program Activities Highlighting Regional and Country Window Perspectives”

Advancing Energy Efficiency for Regional Growth and Climate-Resilient Livelihoods

Energy efficiency is a critical pathway towards sustainable development, economic growth, and climate resilience in Africa. By supporting policy frameworks and catalysing investments that advance efficient energy use across sectors, EELA emphasises approaches grounded in regional dynamics and country‑specific needs.

This session provides a unique opportunity to reflect on the EELA Program’s achievements, lessons learned, and the pathways ahead, both from a regional coordination and country implementation perspective.

Agenda

Explore the agenda for the EELA workshop below:

09:00 - 09:20: Welcome Remarks and Objectives of the Session, 

  • Moderator: Ms. Doreen Bwalya, National Project Coordinator for EELA Zambia, UNIDO
  • Welcome Remarks: Hon. July G. Moyo, Minister of Energy and Power Development, Zimbabwe
  • Keynote Address: His Excellency Per Lindgärde, Ambassador of Sweden to Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe 
  • Scene-setting: Mr. Innocent Madziva, UNIDO Country Representative, Zimbabwe

09:30 – 10:30: Panel Discussion, moderated by Ms. Doreen Bwalya, National Program Coordinator, EELA Zambia:   

  • Mr. Victor Sibanda, Zimbabwe Energy Regulation Authority (ZERA) 
  • Ms. Belinda Soko Kancheya, Zambia Bureau of Zambia (ZABS)
  • Ms. Asteria Markus, SACREEE 
  • Ms. Elin Mathilda Karlsson - Industrial Development Expert, UNIDO 
  • Mr. Denis Ariho, Lead Technical Expert, EACREEE
  • Dr. Mawufemo Modjinou, Ag. Director, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Projects Development and Fund Mobilisation, ECREEE 
  • Ms. Joyce Njogu, Head Consulting Business Development and Sustainability, Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), Kenya 

10:30: Closing remarks

Session Themes and Discussion Topics

  • Map regional EE policies, institutional frameworks, and market landscapes, and identify gaps and opportunities across EAC, ECOWAS, and SADC.
  • Showcase successful international and African regional energy‑efficiency models with potential applicability to SADC.
  • Prioritise livelihood‑focused EE interventions (productive use, clean cooking, efficient appliances, buildings, industrial EE).
  • Strengthen regional and national coordination mechanisms and the harmonisation of standards, data systems, and Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) frameworks.
  • Identify suitable financing instruments and de‑risking strategies for the SADC context and outline a roadmap for developing country‑window project pipelines.

 

Download our materials

The following materials are available for download:

The EELA Program at a Glance

Since its inception in 2019, the EELA Program has focused on transforming markets toward high‑performing, affordable and energy‑efficient appliances, increasing energy‑efficiency investments in the industrial sector, and promoting sustainable local value chains for energy‑efficient products and services.

Building on this foundation, EELA supports policy frameworks and catalyses investments that advance efficient energy use across sectors, with approaches tailored to regional dynamics and country‑specific needs. Through this work, the program positions energy efficiency not only as a technical upgrade, but as a strategic lever for sustainable development, competitiveness and climate‑resilient livelihoods.

The program also supports the set-up of a one-stop-shop Industry Clean-Tech Platform linked with de-risking instruments at the National Industry Associations and promotes cooperation with high quality international technology providers. 

EELA is funded by the Government of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in partnership with EACREEE, ECREEE, and SACREEE.

 

Contact Details

Ms. Karin Reiss-Haimbala

EELA Program Manager, Division of Energy and Climate Action, UNIDO

k.reiss@unido.org 

 

Ms. Ndivhuho Tshikovhi

EELA Program Administrator, Division of Energy and Climate Action, UNIDO

n.tshikovhi@unido.org