Carol, alongside Daniella Ngarambe, Keno Shiferaw and Charly Gatete, as part of the African School of Regulation, facilitated the first of three days of a consultative workshop to bolster the framework for cross-border strategic cooperation for skill sharing in the African energy sector.

The workshop was organised by the African Energy Commission of the African Union (AFREC) in partnership with Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency) and the African Development Bank Group, and took place in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

It ran from 10th - 12th December 2024.

The conversation started on day 1 revolved around electrifying healthcare facilities in Africa. On day 2 it continued with the focus on “Surmounting the Challenges” as experts spoke on innovative solutions, key approaches and regulatory changes that would accelerate this process. The final day was a discussion to recap all the lessons learnt from day 1 and 2, and an exploration of the actionable steps to drive forward this critical agenda.

Watch and learn more about the event here

Carol Awour was part of the 'Green hydrogen in India and opportunities with Europe' event alongside Lucila de Almeida from FSR moderated by Swetha Ravi Kumar from FSR Global.

The discussion analysed the opportunities for synergies between the EU and India, together with Abhinav Jindal, Senior Researcher and Energy Economist and the author of the recently published paper: At scale adoption of Green Hydrogen in Indian Industry: Costs, subsidies and policies, which focuses on some of the crucial aspects to be considered in the case of India.

Carol Ofafa was part of the expert panel in the Unlocking Africa’s Sustainable Future event, organized by IAI with the partnership of Eni.

The event focused on advancing climate diplomacy in Africa within the context of the G7 framework. The conference explored the challenges to addressing climate change in Africa and the role of the G7 as a platform for designing solutions and committing support to the region, promoting climate diplomacy. It also highlighted the role of private sector involvement in mobilizing resources necessary for the continent’s transition.

The event was chaired by Margherita Bianchi; Head of Energy, Climate and Resources Programme, Istituto Affari Internazionali-IAI, with a keynote speech from Francesco Corvaro, Special Envoy for Climate Change. Other panelists were; Francesca Ciardiello, Head of Sustainable Development, Eni; Giulia Ferrini, OGMP 2.0 Manager, United Nations Environment Programme and Marc Vanheukelen, Associate Professor, CIFE, Nice; Former EU Ambassador to the WTO and first EEAS Special Climate Envoy

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Carol Awuor co-hosted an FRS Talk event on 'Exploring Energy Regulation in Africa' alongside Prof. Lucila de Almeida from the EUI/RSCAS/FSR and Swetha Ravi Kumar from FSR Global. The event focused on exploring the intricate political economy governing energy regulation across Africa, drawing insights from the book ‘Energy Regulation in Africa’ authored by Dr. Ishmael Ackah and Dr. Charly Gatete. Speakers included Dr. Ishmael Ackah, Executive Secretary of Ghana’s Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), and Dr. Charly Gatete, an Applied Researcher at ASR. They discussed diverse regulatory frameworks, the impact of emerging technologies, climate change challenges, developments in regional energy markets, and the crucial role of regulators in promoting gender mainstreaming within the energy sector. Louise Mathu, a Consultant at ASR, joined as the invited discussant, contributing additional perspectives to the dialogue on energy regulation dynamics in Africa.

Carol Ofafa co-hosted an FSR Talk event on Hydrogen Sales & Purchase Agreement: Challenges Contract Standardization alongside Prof. Lucila de Almeida from the EUI/RSCAS/FSR and Swetha Ravi Kumar from FSR Global. The featured speaker was Dr. Nuno Antunes, who presented research and development results from the Hydrogen Task Force of the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN). The event focused on the development of model contracts within the hydrogen industry, particularly the Hydrogen Sales and Purchase Agreement (H2 SPA), and addressed critical concerns related to hydrogen off-taking and the emerging hydrogen market.

Carol moderated a public lecture on sustainable energy transition in Africa, organized by the Florence School of Transnational Governance. The event featured Lapo Pistelli, Director of Public Affairs at Eni, discussing Africa's dilemma between utilizing abundant fossil fuel resources or pursuing low-carbon growth amid limited technology and funding. The session highlighted the significance of Africa's energy access gap, the underinvestment in renewable energy, and the continent's potential in sustainable energy transition.

Speakers included Sentle Nell, former Young African Leader Fellow at the Florence School of Transnational Governance and Founder and Managing Director of Estahale, Christian Egenhofer from the European University Institute, and Leonardo Meeus, also from EUI. The event underscored critical choices and opportunities for Africa's energy future and their global implications.

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Carol Ofafa alongside; Mr Bahaa Abdullah, CEO and Executive board member, Iskraemeco Group; Mr Domenico Rosa, Head of Unit on Strategic Partnerships with Africa and ACP, DG INTPA, European Commission; Ms Florence Larbi, COO of the Environment and Sanitation, Jospong Group; Mr Dag Kralj, MBA, Member of the Board, BISOL Group; Mr Jan Kostevc, Team leader - Energy Infrastructure, EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) was part of the panelist for the Africa Day 2024 Panel 2 discussion on Green Transition as a Catalyst of Economic Development. Moderated by Dr Smiljana Knez, Ambassador-at-Large for Climate Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, the panel discussion aimed at drawing attention to the importance of green energy transition for faster economic growth in Europe and Africa.

Carol Awuor Ofafa, representing the African School of Regulation within the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, participated in a podcast hosted by Giuseppe Zago, EDI Officer at the European University Institute (EUI). The podcast focused on the importance of equal opportunities in Africa and Europe, discussing the barriers that must be overcome and exploring ways everyone can contribute to achieving gender equality.

Carol Ofafa co-hosted a session focused on the EU's strategic initiatives in energy transition alongside Prof. Lucila Almeida from the European University Institute/Robert Schuman Center for Advanced Studies/Florence School of Regulation (EUI/RSCAS/FSR) and Swetha Ravi Kumar from FSR Global. The discussion, featuring Delphine Brissonneau from the EU Delegation in India, Prof. Ummu Salma Bava from Jawaharlal Nehru University, and invited discussant Dr. Parul Bakshi from FSR Global, examined the implementation pathways and impacts of the EU's policies, the importance of gender aspects in energy transition, and the interactions between the global north and south. The session highlighted the EU's role in shaping energy transition pathways in the Global South and its significance in addressing climate change and achieving sustainable development goals.

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Carol Awuor served as the host for an FSR Talk session discussing UNEP’s recent initiatives on climate adaptation and loss and damage. Co-hosted by Prof. Lucila de Almeida from the European University Institute/Robert Schuman Center for Advanced Studies/Florence School of Regulation (EUI/RSCAS/FSR) and Swetha Ravi Kumar from FSR Global, the session featured Dr. Alvin Chandra, Global Coordinator for Adaptation Policy and Partnerships at the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). Dr. Chandra presented on UNEP’s efforts concerning the Loss and Damage Fund and discussed the historic decisions made at the most recent COP. Additionally, the session highlighted UNEP’s publication of the Adaptation Gap Report 2023, focusing on global adaptation challenges and strategies. Prof. Ginevra Le Moli, a Part-time Professor at EUI/RSCAS/FSR, contributed as the invited discussant, offering insights and perspectives on the implications of UNEP’s work within the context of climate regulation and policymaking.

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At the inaugural conference of the International Network on African Energy Transition, which was organized by Eni in partnership with Luiss Business School Luiss School of Government, Carol participated as a panelist and discussed the priorities of Africa in the just energy transition.

Politicians and specialists in energy from Italy and Africa attended the event.

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Carol was acknowledged as a thought leader in the field of electric mobility, as evidenced by her invitation to the Africa E-mobility Week 2023. Her expertise in this developing field was highlighted by the request to discuss the future of e-mobility, with a particular emphasis on the decision between plug-in charging and battery swapping.

The event on November 1st-3rd in Nairobi not only emphasized the significance of the conversation but also the region's dedication to promoting environmentally friendly transportation options.

Carol was well-positioned to share her knowledge and viewpoints as a participant in this esteemed occasion, helping to shape the conversation about the future of e-mobility.

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Carol participated as a speaker at the Smarter Mobility Africa 2023 summit for the 5th annual SMA summit.

As the CEO & Co-Founder of E-Safari Charging Ltd, she was involved in the Panel Discussion on Core Principles to Empower Women in Public Transport, which uncovers the deep-rooted challenges and how women can be empowered, given their significant roles as passengers, employees, or entrepreneurs in the public transport sector.

The other panelists were Glory Oguegbu, Expert Business Coach, Future Females Business School (Nigeria), Yolanda Mabuto, Global Energy Executive, BRICS Energy & Green Economy Group (South Africa), and Charlene Kouassi, Directrice, MovinÓn Lab Africa (Côte d'Ivoire).

Carol attended the launch of the African School of Regulation supported by the Rockefeller Foundation and other founding partners, such as the African Development Bank, GIZ, Government of Denmark, European Union, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and others.

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Carol served as a moderator at the Off-grid Solar Systems event hosted by the African School of Regulation, focusing on the theme "Towards Sustainable and Scalable Business Models."

In this capacity, she led a panel discussion featuring experts such as Grégoire Jacquot from Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), Yann Tanvez from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Albert Ng’ang’a from CrossBoundary Energy.

The presentation covered important topics including regulations, financing frameworks, and business plans related to Off-grid Solar (OGS). The discussion emphasized how important it is to plan electrification using an integrated approach for overall success and impact.

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At the 2023 P4G Colombia Summit, Carol pitched E-Safiri's business plan to investors and influential members of the climate impact ecosystem.

She discussed the company's challenges, plans for scaling, and practical, invest-able solutions.

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Carol was invited as a moderator during the panel discussion on charging standards for electric 2 and 3 wheelers in Africa organized by African EV. The panel comprised regulatory and policy experts from different regions in Africa:

• Robert Njoroge, Senior Standards Officer, Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)
• Eng. Francis Mensah, Ghana Standards Authority (ECOWAS) and Principal speaker for the Communication for Development Agency (CDA)
• Johnson Marema, Southern Representative for African Electrotechnical Standardisation Commission (AFSEC)

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