Criteria for Joining APRA

APRA invites participation from various stakeholders, including countries, public and private entities, to contribute to its mission of accelerating renewable energy transitions in Africa. Currently, membership requests to partnership are submitted to IRENA, after which the process of consideration begins and culminates in a review and decision by the APRA Steering Committee which is the highest decision-making authority of the partnership. For more information or to get involved, interested parties can contact APRA by email at apra@irena.org.

To maintain APRA focus, effectiveness and credibility, membership of APRA should be guided by a set of criteria. These criteria would differ for different constituencies and could be translated into templates to facilitate assessments and promote consistent and transparent decision-making. Applications for joining APRA would be received by IRENA as the Secretariat, and recommendations would be presented to the Steering Committee for decision.

African country partners

  • Political leadership and International Collaboration: Commitment to actively participate in APRA, including at the highest levels, and collaborative initiatives, agreements and activities.
  • Policy and Regulatory Frameworks: Political commitment to strong policies and regulatory frameworks that support renewable energy development and green industrialisation and promote trade and investment.
  • NDCs: Ambitious efficient renewables-based strategies across sectors (mitigation and adaptation).
  • Renewable Energy: Ambitious targets for renewable energy production and consumption. This would include specific percentages of total energy mix to be derived from renewable sources by 2030 and mid-century, in line with the Paris Agreement.
  • Investment: Commitment to substantial investment in renewable energy technologies and infrastructure, green industries and local value chains.

Development Partner countries

  • Political leadership and International Collaboration: Commitment to actively participate in APRA, including at the highest levels, and support collaborative initiatives, agreements and activities.
  • Finance: Commitment to financial support of the APRA national plans, strategies and priorities, including though MDBs/IFIs, and active commitment to seeking innovative mechanisms to de-risk investment, lower capital costs and attract private investment.
  • Private Sector: Actively engage with the private sector to encourage and facilitate their participation in APRA countries to expedite renewable deployment, local value chains and industries, and enhance trade and investment opportunities.
  • Technical Support and Capacity Building: Commitment to provide swift and targeted support, in line with the country requests and priorities.

Technical and Financing Institutions

  • Expertise: demonstrated stills and abilities to contribute to the work of APRA;
  • Resources: commitment to contribute technical and financial resources to the Partnership.

Private Sector

  • Targets: Own decarbonisation targets and timelines. Regular and transparent reporting on carbon footprint and progress towards decarbonisation targets.
  • Policy Advocacy and Industry Leadership: Leadership in policy advocacy to drive broader sectoral changes and demonstrate commitment beyond the company's immediate interests.
  • Supply Chain Sustainability: Assessing the sustainability of the company's supply chain, including the sourcing of materials and components.
  • Community Engagement and Social Responsibility: The company's involvement in community-oriented projects and initiatives that have social benefits, such as improving local energy access or creating jobs.
  • Investment: Size of the financial commitment to renewables and other climate- safe options through direct investments in projects, acquisitions, or partnerships.