$1m grant to drive electric mobility shift in 7 African countries

Following a $1-million technical assistance grant to the Green Mobility Facility for Africa (GMFA), the continent will further pave the way for the development of Africa-produced electric vehicles.

The grant was pledged by the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) of the African Development Bank Group. GMFA provides technical assistance and investment capital to accelerate and expand private sector investments in sustainable transport solutions in seven countries: Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and South Africa.

According to Nnenna Nwabufo, director-general of the bank’s East Africa regional development and business delivery office, the SEFA grant will also support the design of electric vehicle business models and guidelines for the public and private sector.

The development of a bankable pipeline of e-mobility projects, regional coordination, and knowledge sharing amongst other upstream activities to help catalyse follow-on private sector financing during the subsequent investment phase of the GMFA is also on the cards.

“Mobility is a fundamental lifeline that connects people to critical services, jobs, education, and opportunities,” said Nwabufo.

“The African Development Bank is committed to building a sustainable and more climate-resilient future by catalysing private investment in low-carbon solutions. We believe GMFA will have a tremendous impact on the African market by accelerating the shift to green mobility, reducing over 2 175 000 carbon dioxide equivalent tons of greenhouse gas emissions and facilitating the creation of 19 000 full-time jobs.”

Rwanda Development Board chief executive Clare Akamanzi said, “Future demand for mobility solutions and vehicle ownership is expected to increase with rapid urbanisation, population growth, and economic development.

“We are delighted to receive this support from AfDB. We see this as a vote of confidence in our efforts to shift to e-mobility solutions and advance Rwanda’s transition to a low-carbon economy.”

Rwanda is one of seven pilot countries for GMFA.

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