EEP Africa Knowledge Week is a dynamic three-day series of online events exploring emerging trends, entrepreneurial insights, and groundbreaking innovations in the clean energy sector across Southern and Eastern Africa. From February 11–13, 2025 (15:00–16:30 EAT daily), industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders will come together to discuss key challenges and opportunities shaping the sector.
Each session offers a unique perspective—from tackling off-grid system repairs to unveiling EEP Africa’s latest Call for Proposals and celebrating the Project of the Year. The week concludes with an inspiring discussion on the experiences of women entrepreneurs, their challenges, and pathways to financial access.
11 February 2025 at 14:00-15:30 EAT
Navigating Repairs in the Off-Grid Sector
Join us for an insightful discussion, hosted by EEP Africa, in collaboration with SolarAid and GOGLA, on the critical role of repairs and maintenance in the off-grid energy sector. In this session, four experienced entrepreneurs will share their journeys, successes, and challenges in providing repair solutions for off-grid systems. They’ll discuss the importance of building a robust repair infrastructure to ensure the longevity and sustainability of off-grid solutions, from solar systems to other renewable energy technologies.
Moderator: Rebecca Rhodes, Senior Strategy and Programmes Manager at GOGLA
Sector Expert: Jamie McCloskey, Director of Programmes and Partnerships at SolarAid
Panelists:
Kudzi Chitiva, CEO of Natfort Energy
Kinya Kimathi, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Kijani Testing
Karla Kanyanga, Country Manager at SolarAid/SunnyMoney Zambia
Edward Mpasu, Customer Services Manager at Zuwa
12 February 2025 at 14:00-15:30 EAT
EEP Africa’s Call for Proposals Launch and Project of the Year
Join us for an exciting and informative webinar hosted by EEP Africa, where we’ll take you behind the scenes of our work in advancing clean energy solutions across sub-Saharan Africa. This session will feature:
- An Introduction to EEP Africa: Learn more about EEP Africa’s mission, our impact in driving sustainable energy solutions, and how we are empowering entrepreneurs to scale their innovations.
- Project of the Year Winner Interview: Hear directly from the winner of our prestigious “Project of the Year” award as they share their inspiring journey, successes, challenges, and how EEP Africa has supported the transformative impact their project is having in the clean energy space.
- Call for Proposals 2025: Get the inside scoop on our upcoming Call for Proposals launching next week! We will walk you through the application process, eligibility criteria, and tips for submitting a successful proposal to secure funding for your innovative clean energy solutions.
Speakers:
Jussi Viding, Team Leader at EEP Africa
Kelly Keodara, Fund Communications Officer at EEP Africa
Susanne Hounsell, Head of Portfolio at EEP Africa
13 February 2025 at 14:00-15:30 EAT
Journey as a Woman Entrepreneur: Navigating Challenges and Accessing Finance
Despite growing recognition of women’s vital role in energy transitions, women-led enterprises continue to receive disproportionately less funding than their male-led counterparts. Globally, women-led startups secure significantly less investment, a trend mirrored in Sub-Saharan Africa, where less than 2% of startup funding between 2019 and 2023 went to women-led businesses. This stark disparity stems from systemic barriers such as gender bias in fund allocation and a lack of women in senior fund management roles.
Join us to hear firsthand from women-led enterprises in our portfolio as they share their challenges and successes in navigating the complex journey of accessing finance.
Moderator: Chiedza Mazaiwana, Portfolio Manager at EEP Africa
Panelists:
- Shantha Bloemen, CEO of Mobility for Africa
- Virginia Sibanda, CEO of VIRL Finance
- Maya Stewart, CEO of Yellow
- Jedidah Ndubi, Investment Manager at Acumen