Published on: June 14, 2024 03:04 (EAT)
President William Ruto of Kenya (L) and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom meet at the COP27 summit in Egypt in November 2022. | PHOTO: FILE/British High Commission in Nairobi
The United Kingdom has announced a funding commitment to show the UK as a force for global good at the G7 Leader Summit scheduled for Friday.
The funding includes Ksh.82 million (£500,000) for an initiative to support the planning, prioritisation and implementation of green infrastructure initiatives between the UK, the Government of Kenya and the wider G7.
Focusing on transport projects selected from the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGII), this partnership will lead to closer cooperation with the Kenyan Government on strategic infrastructure and investment and is the first partnership between the G7’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment and AGII.
The UK has also partnered with the World Bank and the European Union to support Africa’s electricity transmission and assist the continent in addressing the adverse effects of climate change.
This includes a Ksh.2.4 billion pledge towards the Zambia-Tanzania interconnector to boost the Ksh39 billion project that is set to link the Southern and East African Power infrastructure to aid in economic development and poverty reduction.
The funding also includes Ksh.9.3 billion towards the Climate Compatible Growth Programme to assist African countries develop climate-resilient infrastructure.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak emphasised that the UK government is committed to supporting countries to develop sustainable development goals in developing their own clean energy transitions and harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence.
“The green transition and the development of AI are key components of this, and the funding announced today will help ensure that these seismic changes happen in a way that works for all,” Sunak stated.