Islamic Development Bank and Masen Launch RECPA Program to Boost Renewable Energy in Africa

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (Masen) have launched their latest South-South cooperation program, dubbed RECPA (Renewable Energy Cooperation Program to Power Africa), during an event held in Morocco.

Program Overview

The RECPA program, guided by the mantra "by Africa and for Africa," aims to support renewable energy development initiatives in African member countries of the IDB through the Bank's "Reverse Linkage" South-South cooperation approach. This initiative leverages the financial resources of the IDB, Masen's expertise, private sector collaboration, and the participation of several African partners, including the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), Morocco's National Office of Electricity and Potable Water (ONEE), Senegal's National Electricity Company (Senelec), and Tunisia's Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas (STEG).

Partnership and Collaboration

During a joint workshop organized by Masen and the IDB, a memorandum of understanding was signed, symbolizing the spirit of collaboration and teamwork behind this new program. The event brought together representatives from 11 countries and numerous African technical partners.

First Projects and Beneficiary Countries

"The first projects co-initiated by the IDB and Masen, notably with Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, and Niger, demonstrate our active commitment to supporting renewable energy in African member countries of the IDB," announced Masen.

The 11 beneficiary countries of this program include Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Chad. During the event, the IDB, Masen, participating countries, and partners worked on upgrading the project pipeline and launching the process of selecting eligible projects for the program.

Knowledge Sharing and Experience Exchange

According to the parties involved, "This event was a valuable opportunity to share technical, legal, and financial knowledge, as well as to exchange experiences on implementing renewable energy projects in Africa, with a particular focus on development, financing, and implementation aspects."

By launching the RECPA program, the IDB and Masen are taking a significant step towards promoting renewable energy development in Africa, fostering cooperation, and driving sustainable growth in the region.