• Sustainable Finance
  • Energy and Climate

AEF at the Finance in Common Summit 2025

  • The Africa-Europe Foundation

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The Finance in Common Summit 2025 in Cape Town (26–28 February) will convene Public Development Banks (PDBs) to drive collective action for climate resilience and sustainable development.

This summit presents a pivotal moment for the Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF) to rally stakeholders in transforming international financial systems and mobilising critical resources for the SDGs and the Paris Action Agenda.

Amid rising conflicts, economic uncertainty, and climate crises, securing long-term, predictable, and affordable finance is more urgent than ever. Our engagements at the summit will spotlight sustainable finance, a key pillar of EU-AU cooperation, as we work to unlock Africa's full development potential.

In collaboration with AUDA-NEPAD, we will launch our report, The Missing Connection: Unlocking Sustainable Infrastructure Financing in Africa. This report examines the current state of infrastructure investment, highlights key challenges and opportunities, and offers recommendations for financing strategies that align with Africa's sustainable development goals.

G20 Finance and Central Bank Deputies and Ministerial Meeting

Wednesday 26 February, 12:30-13:30 (time TBC)
(closed door)

The first G20 Finance and Central Bank Deputies and Ministerial Meeting will take place from 24-27 February. As a strategic partner of South Africa’s Treasury in setting the international tax agenda, AEF will be present in an advisory capacity.

Africa-Europe High-Level Policymakers Interactive Panel Discussion on Energy Transition Minerals

Thursday 28 February, 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Cape Town International Convention Centre 1, Foyer Auditorium 1
Interactive Panel Discussion

At COP28, over 130+ governments agreed to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030. Achieving these ambitious goals hinges on a significant increase in the supply of energy transition minerals (ETMs).

The evolving geopolitical landscape, pushed by increasing demand of ETM, necessitates a re-evaluation of Europe's approach to transition minerals in Africa. By recognising the continent as a market rather than merely an exporter, Europe can foster more equitable and mutually beneficial partnerships.

This Finance in Common Summit (FiCS) high-level policymakers meeting will focus on how Africa’s vast reserves can be harnessed to build local value chains and manufacture clean technologies for Africa’s own demand and export needs. It will explore how fostering private investments can support value creation goals and in what ways DFIs, MDBs and PDBs could contribute. It will also dive into how redefining international cooperation on ETMs, especially between Africa and Europe, can address current challenges while unlocking new opportunities, including for driving locally led industrialisation and investment.

Hosted by the Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF) and the Paris Peace Forum (PPF) ahead of a “super year” for revamping Africa-Europe cooperation and embedding minerals firmly in the global agenda, the meeting will lay the foundation for a renewed approach to cooperation on ETMs and related investment in sustainable mining and processing projects on the African continent.

Unlocking Sustainable Infrastructure Financing and Investment in Africa

Friday 28 February, 10:45 – 12:15
Cape Town International Convention Centre 1 (Auditorium 2)

This session comes at a key moment, with new institutional cycles of the African Union and European Union taking shape, lending an opportunity to strengthen alignment in their strategic partnership objectives, particularly on critical infrastructure.

Together with partners, the European Investment Bank, World Economic Forum and Meridiam, AEF will host this session on leveraging multi-stakeholder partnerships, innovative investment and financing methods, and domestic resources to sustainably fund infrastructure projects.

The meeting will also mark the launch of AEF’s white paper, The Missing Connection: Unlocking Sustainable Infrastructure Financing in Africa, done in collaboration with AUDA-NEPAD, with the support of the African Climate Foundation. The report examines the current state of infrastructure investment, highlights key challenges and opportunities, and offers recommendations for financing strategies that align with Africa's sustainable development goals.

Detailed agenda and speaker details to be shared soon.