Venue: Intercontinental Hotel, Lusaka, Zambia
About the Event
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is at a critical moment in its energy development pathway. As the region confronts energy poverty, climate change, infrastructure gaps, and the need for inclusive growth, the Just Energy Transition (JET) offers a strategic framework to ensure a shift towards clean energy that is equitable, inclusive, and economically transformative.
This Expert Group Meeting (EGM) will bring together policymakers, energy experts, development partners, and regional institutions to validate and finalise the SADC Just Energy Transition Framework and agree on its implementation modalities.
Why it matters: Southern Africa is at a critical juncture in its energy development. The region faces persistent challenges including energy poverty, infrastructure deficits, climate vulnerability, and the need to balance economic growth with decarbonisation.
This high-level Expert Group Meeting will focus on the validation and finalisation of the draft SADC Just Energy Transition (JET) Framework, a strategic regional roadmap designed to:
- Accelerate access to clean, affordable and reliable energy
- Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth
- Support climate resilience and low-carbon development
- Ensure that the transition is just, equitable, and leaves no one behind
The meeting will also agree on priority actions, implementation arrangements, financing options, and monitoring mechanisms to operationalise the framework across the SADC region.
Objectives of the Meeting
The meeting aims to:
- Validate the draft SADC Just Energy Transition Framework
- Build consensus on priority actions, milestones, and implementation mechanisms
- Strengthen regional cooperation around energy transition corridors
- Develop a monitoring and evaluation framework for tracking progress
- Align the framework with regional development, industrialisation, and climate goals
Key Thematic Areas
- Whole-of-economy and whole-of-society approach to energy transition
- Regional energy resources and strategic opportunities
- Corridors of Cooperation for regional value chains
- Energy efficiency, infrastructure and green procurement
- Financing the Just Energy Transition
- Climate change, partnerships and institutional coordination
Expected Outcomes
- A validated and improved SADC JET Framework
- Agreed regional priority actions and implementation roadmap
- Strengthened coordination among SADC, ECA, Member States and partners
- A framework for monitoring, evaluation, and accountability
Participants
- SADC Member States (Energy, Climate, Finance, Planning Ministries)
- SADC Secretariat
- United Nations, ECA
- Power Pool, regulators and regional institutions
- Development partners, experts and technical partners
Further information and queries on the meeting and other related matters should be addressed to:
For Media inquiries:
Mr. Bedson Nyoni
Senior Information Management Assistant
Economic Commission for Africa
Sub Regional Office for Southern Africa (SRO-SA)
Email : nyonib@un.org
Meeting and other related matters
Mr. Mundia Hangubo
Programme Management Assistant
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
Sub regional Office for Southern Africa
P.O. Box 30647,
Lusaka, Zambia
Tel: (+260) 211 228 502-5
Fax: (+260) 211 236 949
E-mail: mundia.hangubo@un.org
Copied to
Mr. Mzwanele Mfunwa
Economic Affairs Officer
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
Sub regional Office for Southern Africa
P O Box 30647,
Lusaka, Zambia
Tel: (+260) 211 228 502-5
Fax: (+260) 211 236 949
E-mail: mfunwa@un.org