MENALINKS launched its regional activities at CSEW 2024, featuring a financial roundtable, a high-level evening reception, a consortium meeting, and a gender-focused session
From September 30 to October 3, 2024, the MENALINKS programme marked a significant milestone by launching its regional activities during Cairo Sustainable Energy Week (CSEW) in Egypt. The event brought together high-level stakeholders from across the MENA region, including government representatives, international organizations, and private sector partners. The MENALINKS team actively participated in CSEW through hosting a financial roundtable, an evening reception opened by H.E. Mr Jürgen Schulz, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Arab Republic of Egypt, and several side events on technical and gender-related themes.
High-level evening reception
The MENALINKS Regional Kick-Off began with an evening reception on September 30, 2024. The event opened with welcoming speeches by H.E. Jürgen Schulz, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Arab Republic of Egypt, and H.E. Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Mohina, First Undersecretary for Strategic Planning of The Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy of Egypt (MoERE). MENALINKS Programme Manager Dr. Christian Nabe and Dr. Corinna Klessmann (Guidehouse Germany) introduced the MENALINKS programme, outlining its vision for advancing renewable energy integration and sector coupling across the MENA region.
The reception featured a high-level panel discussion on “Linking ambitious renewable energy development and efficient sector coupling in the MENA region.” Panelists shared insights on policy innovation, cross-border collaboration, and the importance of public-private partnerships. The evening provided a valuable networking platform, fostering new connections and reinforcing the MENALINKS commitment to inclusive, regional dialogue.
Participation in CSEW
MENALINKS delegates played an active role throughout the CSEW main programme, contributing to technical panels on topics such as smart mini-grids, hydrogen, and digitalization. The programme’s gender workstream was prominently featured, with a dedicated session highlighting strategies for empowering women in the energy sector and the launch of the MENALINKS Female Expert Network and its forthcoming expert database. The event provided a platform for sharing best practices, amplifying the voices of women leaders, and reinforcing the programme’s commitment to diversity and inclusion as a driver of innovation and impact.
Financial roundtable
A dedicated financial roundtable brought together experts from finance, government, and industry to discuss innovative mechanisms for funding renewable energy and sector coupling projects in the region. The session explored the challenges and opportunities of mobilizing private capital, leveraging international climate finance, and designing bankable business models tailored to local contexts.
Participants engaged in discussions about risk mitigation, regulatory frameworks, and the role of blended finance in accelerating the energy transition. The roundtable concluded with actionable recommendations for enhancing investment readiness and fostering a supportive environment for sustainable energy projects, laying the groundwork for future collaboration among MENALINKS partners and stakeholders.
Consortium meeting
On October 2, the MENALINKS consortium meeting convened national partners from Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, and Türkiye. The meeting provided an opportunity for in-depth discussions on country-specific progress, regional modelling, and the status of gender and training workstreams. Partners shared updates, identified common challenges, and explored opportunities for joint activities in the coming year.
The day concluded with a networking dinner, fostering informal exchanges and strengthening the sense of community among MENALINKS stakeholders. The collaborative spirit of the meeting underscored the programme’s role as a catalyst for regional cooperation and knowledge sharing, setting the stage for continued progress toward shared energy transition goals.
The MENALINKS programme’s presence at CSEW 2024 underscored its commitment to regional collaboration, gender inclusion, and innovative financing for the energy transition. The event set the stage for future joint activities and deepened partnerships across the MENA region.
