A Milestone for AfCEN and Africa’s Climate Leadership: A Transformative Journey from Portugal to Belgium
(L-R) Belgian Climate Envoy Willem van de Voorde, AfCEN CEO Joseph Nganga, Enabel’s MD Jean Van Wetter, and INTPA Director General Koen Doensin
The Africa Climate and Energy Nexus (AfCEN), under the leadership of CEO Joseph Ng’ang’a, embarked on a pivotal mission to Portugal and Belgium, marking a significant step in advancing Africa’s climate leadership and fostering robust Europe-Africa collaboration. Partnering with Enabel and guided by Belgian Climate Envoy Willem van de Voorde, AfCEN’s journey began at the II CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries) Energy and Climate Conference in Portugal, followed by a four-day EU roadshow in Belgium. This mission underscored Africa’s growing influence in the global energy transition, highlighted the critical role of private sector investment, and illuminated pathways for innovative climate solutions.
The tour commenced in Portugal, where AfCEN participated in high-level discussions at the II CPLP Energy and Climate Conference. This platform brought together leaders from Portuguese-speaking countries to explore synergies in renewable energy, climate resilience, and sustainable development. AfCEN’s contributions emphasized Africa’s vast renewable energy potential, particularly its solar capacity, which accounts for 60% of the world’s best solar resources. The interventions highlighted the need for strategic partnerships to harness this potential, positioning Africa not as a passive recipient of aid but as a proactive leader in the global fight against climate change. The discussions in Portugal laid a strong foundation for the subsequent engagements in Belgium, reinforcing the urgency of collaborative action.
Belgium: A Deep Dive into Climate Innovation and Collaboration
Following the success in Portugal, the AfCEN delegation arrived in Belgium for a transformative four-day mission, coordinated seamlessly by Enabel and steered by Belgian Climate Envoy Willem van de Voorde. The visit began with a high-level briefing in Brussels, where van de Voorde’s visionary leadership set an ambitious tone for the engagements. The itinerary included strategic site visits, policy roundtables, and dialogues with key stakeholders, all aimed at strengthening Europe-Africa partnerships in climate action and energy transition.
Industrial Insights in Antwerp
Antwerp served as a gateway to Belgium’s cutting-edge clean energy infrastructure. The delegation toured the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, a global leader in sustainable port operations, which has forged a notable partnership with Namport in Namibia to enhance port efficiency and green logistics. This collaboration exemplifies how Belgian expertise can support Africa’s infrastructure ambitions. Further visits to DEME, CMB.TECH, and Fluxys provided deep insights into Belgium’s hydrogen economy and decarbonization strategies. A highlight was the demonstration at CMB.TECH, where a Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle was refueled, symbolizing the tangible progress in clean energy innovation. These visits, expertly facilitated by Enabel, showcased replicable models for systemic investments that blend public and private capital.
AfCEN CEO Joseph Nganga joins a CMB.TECH representative for a hydrogen refueling demo hilighting scalable, innovative solutions that can accelerate Africa’s clean energy transition.
Investment Day and Policy Roundtable: Charting Africa’s Climate Future
The mission’s momentum peaked during an Investment Day in Brussels, which convened industry leaders, policymakers, and financiers for cluster group discussions on green hydrogen, decentralized renewable energy, and infrastructure financing. A high-level policy roundtable at Enabel headquarters, titled “How to Support Africa’s Ambitions in Becoming a Key Player in Fighting Climate Change,” served as the centerpiece. AfCEN’s Joseph Ng’ang’a opened the session, passionately advocating for Africa’s role as a renewable energy superpower. He emphasized that Africa’s unmatched solar potential, combined with its youthful and rapidly growing population, positions the continent as a strategic partner in global climate solutions.
The roundtable featured robust participation from Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prévot, DG INTPA’s Koen Doens, and Belgian Climate Minister Zakia Khattabi, whom Ng’ang’a met to discuss aligning Belgium’s climate priorities with Africa’s needs. The discussions underscored the EU’s commitment to mobilize €150 billion through the Global Gateway by 2027, with a focus on blending development finance with private sector capital. Industry representatives from companies like Turbulent and GE Vernova highlighted persistent investment barriers, particularly the lack of fiscal room and declining development budgets. Addressing group discussions at a round table, Joseph stressed that the private sector must step up to bridge this financing gap, as public funding alone cannot meet the scale of Africa’s climate ambitions.
A key theme was the need for development funding to act differently. Traditional aid models are insufficient; instead, funding should prioritize project preparation to make initiatives bankable, enabling them to attract private investment. This approach, would unlock scalable renewable energy projects and green infrastructure across Africa. Belgian Climate Envoy Willem van de Voorde and Enabel CEO Jean Van Wetter closed the session with a call for dynamic, equitable partnerships that leverage Belgium’s technical expertise and Africa’s vast potential.
Strategic Dialogue at the Egmont Institute
The visit concluded with a lecture and strategic dialogue at the Egmont Institute, where Joseph delivered a compelling address reframing Africa’s narrative in the global climate arena. “Far from being a vulnerable continent, Africa is poised to lead as a renewable energy superpower”, he argued. He highlighted the urgency of integrating the private sector, scaling green technologies, and empowering Africa’s youth to drive the energy transition. The discussions underscored the convergence of political will, technical capability, and financial innovation needed to power a green industrial transformation across the continent.
AfCEN CEO Joseph Ng’ang’a delivering a keynote lecture at the Egmont Institute in Brussels, hosted by Enabel. The session brought together European policymakers, climate leaders, and development experts for a strategic dialogue on Africa’s role in the global energy transition—championing innovation, investment, and equitable partnerships
Key Learnings and Opportunities
The mission yielded several critical insights and opportunities for future collaboration:
- Africa’s Renewable Energy Potential: With 60% of the world’s best solar resources and a youthful demographic, Africa is uniquely positioned to lead the global energy transition. Partnerships with Belgian companies like CMB.TECH, Fluxys, and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges (with its Namport collaboration) provide actionable models for scaling green infrastructure.
- Private Sector’s Role in Bridging the Financing Gap: Declining development budgets and limited fiscal space necessitate a stronger private sector role. By addressing investment barriers and leveraging de-risking mechanisms, private capital can drive large-scale climate projects.
- Rethinking Development Funding: To make projects bankable, development funding must focus on project preparation, technical assistance, and capacity building. This shift will enable Africa to attract the commercial capital needed for sustainable growth.
- Green Hydrogen and Infrastructure: Belgium’s expertise in green hydrogen, exemplified by CMB.TECH’s innovations, aligns with Africa’s ambitions to develop hydrogen economies and decarbonize industries.
- EU’s Global Gateway: The EU’s €150 billion commitment by 2027 offers a transformative opportunity to catalyze climate-smart investments, provided it is effectively leveraged through public-private partnerships.
A New Chapter in Climate Leadership
This mission, spanning Portugal and Belgium, marked a turning point in Africa’s climate leadership. From the II CPLP Conference to the Brussels roadshow, AfCEN demonstrated that Africa is not merely a participant but a driver of the global climate agenda. The partnerships forged with Enabel, Belgian Climate Envoy Willem van de Voorde, and companies like the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and CMB.TECH signal a new era of collaboration. “Africa is open for business in the spirit of climate justice.”
With the second Africa Climate Summit and Mission 300 on the horizon, this mission lays a robust foundation for deeper cooperation. By integrating private sector investment, rethinking development funding, and leveraging Europe’s technical expertise, Africa is poised to lead the world towards a sustainable, equitable future. The journey from Portugal to Belgium has not only strengthened diplomatic and technical ties but also set the stage for a shared vision of climate innovation and prosperity.
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2025