The International Energy Agency (IEA) hired Maximilian Jarrett\u00a0as its first Africa Programme Manager to help expand the Agency\u2019s reach and coordinate its work as it deepens its engagement across the continent.<\/p>\n
Mr Jarrett brings 30 years of experience in the fields of international economic affairs, media production and strategic communications. He most recently served as the Director-in-Charge\u00a0of the Geneva-based\u00a0Africa Progress Panel, which was chaired by the late Kofi Annan, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former UN Secretary General.<\/p>\n
The IEA has long focused on Africa\u2019s energy sector, including work on the continent\u2019s energy access issues since 2002. This work has since expanded significantly and will continue to do so in the coming years. Last year, Dr Kandeh Yumkella, a former United Nations Under-Secretary-General,\u00a0became\u00a0an advisor to the IEA on Africa and energy access issues.<\/p>\n
In October, the IEA published\u00a0Africa Energy Outlook 2019<\/em> its most comprehensive and in-depth work to date about the continent, with a particular emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa. The special report, part of the IEA\u2019s flagship\u00a0World Energy Outlook<\/em>, highlighted Africa\u2019s increasing role in global energy affairs and included detailed energy profiles of 11 countries that represent three-quarters of the region\u2019s gross domestic product and energy demand, including Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya and Ghana.<\/p>\n The IEA is also\u00a0strengthening its relationships with African energy decision-makers.\u00a0South Africa and Morocco are part of the IEA family as Association countries. In May 2019, the IEA and the African Union Commission co-hosted their first joint ministerial summit at which the two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding to guide future collaboration. A second ministerial forum will be held in 2020, with\u00a0South Africa offering to host the event in line with its 2020 presidency of the African Union.<\/p>\n