Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States of America is back in Washington after an African tour that took her to Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia. During this trip, Kamala Harris notably launched a call to the American private sector to promote and strengthen climate resilience in Africa.
Addressing the climate crisis is a global challenge.
I am proud to have secured $7 billion in private sector commitments that will support climate resilience, adaptation, and mitigation across the continent of Africa. pic.twitter.com/5twGSfXQ4O
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) April 1, 2023
In response, “the private sector has pledged more than $7 billion. In addition, the U.S. government is announcing new federal funding and initiatives to expand access to climate information services and strengthen climate resilience and adaptation,” the U.S. Vice President announced during the final stop of her African tour in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia.
The American diplomatic offensive
Clearly, the funds will be mobilized by 27 companies and charities to contribute to the response to the climate emergency. The aim is to finance the deployment of renewable energies and sustainable agriculture in the face of the climate. Through this initiative, Washington hopes to reach 116 million farmers and support climate-smart agriculture. This promise of funding comes at a time when Africa is more than ever at the center of the international stakes, with many world powers conducting operations to seduce the continent.
In concrete terms, Russia is accelerating its defense efforts, particularly in West and Central Africa. China and Turkey are increasing their investments in infrastructure and trade tenfold. The same is true for Japan, which promised at the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-8) in October 2022 in Tunisia, to invest in key sectors related to sustainable development in Africa, including renewable energy, sustainable cities and access to drinking water. These diplomatic initiatives have intensified since the beginning of the war in Ukraine a year ago.
The financing of renewable energy
“By 2050, one in four people in the world will live on the African continent. By investing in their ingenuity and creativity, we can open up incredible opportunities for the entire world,” Kamala Harris said on her Twitter account as she arrived in Accra, Ghana, for the first leg of her Africa trip.
By 2050, 1 in 4 people in the world will be on the African continent.
By investing in their ingenuity and creativity, we can unlock incredible opportunity for the entire world. pic.twitter.com/BxnV0ifl7e
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) March 28, 2023
Beyond geopolitical and strategic considerations, the United States of America remains an important partner for Africa’s sustainable development. Washington has increased its investments in renewable energy tenfold in recent years, notably through the Power Africa initiative launched under former President Barack Obama’s administration in July 2013, with the goal of accelerating Africa’s electrification via renewable energy. Over the past two years, the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has been involved in several projects and initiatives to deploy renewable energy in Africa.
DFC is involved in financing the 20 MWp Golomoti solar power plant in Malawi, and supports renewable energy providers through the Nithio investment platform. The financial company formed from the merger of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the Development Credit Authority (DCA) is also involved in a $145 million initiative with the Shell Foundation to invest in renewable energy in Africa and Asia.
Jean Marie Takouleu