UNESCO Chair in Energy for Sustainable Development and global stakeholders are advocating for efforts to address the energy crisis in Africa. They believe that knowledge sharing is crucial to building capacity in the continent and ensuring sustainable energy for Africa. The International Energy Agency estimates that over 600 million people, or 43% of the population, lack access to electricity in Africa, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
The African Union and the European Union are working together on collaborations and partnerships to share know-how, facilities, and innovative teaching and learning methods between EU and AU universities. Assistant Director General for Education at UNESCO, Stefania Giannini, emphasized the need for education in improving energy sustainability in Africa, stating that knowledge should be shared across borders for the common good. UNESCO Chair in Energy for Sustainable Development, Emanuela Colombo, added that education should be designed in a way that students understand the long-term impacts of different energy usage, considering the unique challenges and raw material availability in Africa.