More than 100 researchers, scientists, and professionals from across Africa and the Global South gathered in Saly (on the Senegalese coast) for the second congress of the African Institute for Sustainable Energy and Systems Analysis (AISESA). Held from September 16 to 19, this meeting is intended to be a strategic platform for reflecting on sustainable energy and climate solutions, shaped by and for Africa. The opening ceremony was chaired this Tuesday by the High Representative of the President of the Republic, Aminata Touré.

Organized in partnership with AKADEMIYA2063 and the National Academy of Sciences and Technology of Senegal (ANSTS), this meeting marks an important step for AISESA, whose mission is to promote transdisciplinary research, anchored in African realities, in order to support the continent's sustainable development policies.

Following the first edition in Cape Town (South Africa) in 2024, this second congress is distinguished by its commitment to inclusion, bringing together a new generation of researchers, decision-makers, and practitioners. Divided into five major thematic clusters, participants will focus on the following areas: Pathways to Clean Energy for Development, Implementation of Solutions, Policies and Governance, Financing and Technology, and Skills and Institutions.

The objective is to co-create impactful knowledge systems that will contribute to the continent's energy transformation while strengthening its resilience to climate shocks.

African voices for African solutions

Professor Youba Sokona, AISESA's program director and interim board member, emphasized the need to design strategies tailored to the African context. " We are committed to advancing African energy and climate agendas, taking into account the continent's development priorities," he said.

He also recalled AISESA's active role in global climate discussions, particularly at the upcoming COP29, but also in Addis Ababa, during the recently concluded Climate Week and the African Climate Summit.

For Dr. Ousmane Badiane, President of AKADEMIYA2063, this congress comes at an important time. "We are entering the third phase of CAADP, which aims to build resilient agri-food systems," he says. "The theme of this congress is fully in line with this dynamic, by equipping emerging leaders with the tools necessary for impactful climate action."

The congress will also focus on institutional capacity building, mentoring young researchers, and creating strategic partnerships to ensure the continuity and impact of the work carried out.

AISESA for an Africa that is an actor in its transition

Faced with complex challenges such as energy poverty, climate vulnerability, institutional weakness, and high financing costs, AISESA offers a systemic and research-based approach to support an inclusive transformation of the African energy sector. As an autonomous program of AKADEMIYA2063, AISESA positions itself as a key actor in African sustainable development, providing decision-makers with data and analysis to guide appropriate policies.

This congress in Saly thus embodies a collective desire to build a fairer, more inclusive, and more sustainable energy and climate future for Africa.