No other region will see a comparable increase in new building: 80% of the buildings existing in the continent by 2050 are yet to be built. The region’s growing population and economy will require places for living, working, studying and healing.
With buildings being responsible for 61% of energy demand and 32% of GHG emissions regionally, building green represents a unique opportunity to address issues of energy access and poverty, creating jobs, and leading climate action. PEEB partners Djibouti, Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia, together with other African countries, are already working to make energy efficient buildings the norm. However, increasing energy efficiency on the regional level requires a massive scaling of such efforts.
The Africa Energy Efficiency Conference will highlight energy efficiency’s role in achieving savings, reducing emissions, enabling access, and driving economic growth. The Partnership for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB) will play a pivotal role in Addis Ababa, convening policymakers and practitioners to exchange knowledge, strengthen capacities, and highlight actionable pathways for the buildings sector.
Driving Regional Ambition in Energy Efficiency
The African Energy Efficiency Conference will mark the launch of the Africa Energy Efficiency Alliance (AEEA), a new continental platform designed to accelerate progress on energy efficiency across key sectors. The Alliance aims to support African Union goals, including the ambition to increase energy productivity by 50% by 2030 and 70% by 2063, and to strengthen cooperation between governments, development partners, the private sector, and civil society.
Strengthening governance and institutional capacity, as well as deploying innovative finance schemes, as two key enabling factors in reaching those goals. PEEB will bring its experience in promoting policies and finance for buildings in Africa to the stage, reinforcing aFranco-German commitment to promote energy efficiency as one of the most affordable, impactful, and scalable solutions to improve energy security, strengthen resilience, and promote inclusive prosperity across the continent.
With high-level participation from PEEB implementing agencies Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and GIZ, as well as the organization of trainings and sessions by PEEB, the conference represents a valuable opportunity to share success stories and exploring avenues for deepening cooperation.
Building Capacity Ahead of the Conference
Ahead of the AEEC, PEEB, in collaboration with the African Energy Commission (AFREC), the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), and the International Energy Agency (IEA) will host a two-day pre-conference training on 8-9 December. The training will equip policymakers with the technical, policy, and financial foundations needed to scale sustainable construction and energy efficiency in buildings across Africa.
The program focuses on two core dimensions:
- Day 1: Financing Green Buildings
Participants will explore the economic rationale for energy efficiency, green finance taxonomies, investment frameworks, risk assessment tools, and strategies to unlock public and private finance. Practical case studies from PEEB partner countries will demonstrate how financial incentives and regulatory frameworks can stimulate market transformation.
- Day 2: Bioclimatic Design and Sustainable Construction
The second day introduces bioclimatic architecture principles adapted to African climate zones, sustainable materials, passive design strategies, and building standards. Participants will learn how to integrate these approaches into national regulations, with contributions from PEEB experts, UNEP, and the IEA.
The training aims to strengthen technical and institutional capacities across the continent and support policy alignment with the African Energy Efficiency Strategy (AfEES) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
From Policy to Action: Making Energy Efficient and Resilient Buildings the New Normal
On 10 December, PEEB will host a high-level session titled “Making Energy Efficient and Resilient Buildings the New Normal in Africa.” The event will bring together ministers and senior officials from across the continent to discuss how to scale policy action and mobilize investment for sustainable buildings.
Anchored in the ambitions of AfEES, the session will highlight:
- The role of regional frameworks in harmonizing building standards and accelerating market uptake.
- Country examples of regulatory reform, capacity building, and innovation.
- Public–private financing models that enable energy efficiency at scale.
Speakers will include expert from SEforAll and high-level representatives from Djibouti, Ghana, South Africa, Tunisia, and Nigeria, who will share national experiences ranging from local low-carbon building materials to public building renovation programs and national housing strategies. Djibouti, Tunisia, and Nigeria will highlight the role PEEB is playing in strengthening energy efficiency in their countries.
Moderated by Edima Yuyu Okodi-Iyah (GIZ), the panel will facilitate an open exchange on solutions, challenges, and the role of the African Energy Efficiency Alliance (AEEA) in driving future action.
Why Investing in Energy-Efficient Buildings Matters
Investing in energy-efficient buildings reduces energy expenditure, strengthens energy security, and supports climate resilience while creating local jobs and stimulating innovation. Yet African countries continue to face barriers, including limited finance, fragmented regulations, and technical capacity constraints.
PEEB works with countries to overcome these challenges by combining policy support, capacity building, and finance mobilization. The AEEC offers an important opportunity to advance this mission and foster partnerships that translate ambition into tangible results on the ground.
Join Us in Addis Ababa
PEEB looks forward to engaging with partners across Africa to accelerate the transition to efficient and resilient buildings.
To stay updated during the conference, follow our latest news on LinkedIn and through the PEEB website.