The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Power Development of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE), will convene the 2026 SADC Sustainable Energy Week (SEW) from 23 to 27 February 2026 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
At their meeting held in July 2025, Ministers responsible for Energy commended the Government of the Republic of Botswana for successfully hosting the inaugural SADC Sustainable Energy Week in February 2025 and subsequently directed the SADC Secretariat and its subsidiary institutions to support the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe in hosting the 2026 edition of the SADC SEW.
The inaugural SADC SEW was held in Gaborone, Botswana, from 24 to 28 February 2025, culminating in 18 actionable recommendations that have since been incorporated into the operational plans of the SADC Secretariat and SACREEE. Key recommendations included achieving universal energy access as a foundation for economic growth and development; strengthening private sector participation in addressing regional energy challenges; implementing innovative financing mechanisms, including the mobilisation of pension funds and insurance portfolios and the establishment of dedicated energy funds; and prioritising local manufacturing of renewable energy components to reduce import dependency and stimulate job creation.
In this regard, the 2026 SADC Sustainable Energy Week will be jointly hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Power Development of Zimbabwe and SACREEE under the theme: “Driving Regional Economic Growth through Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency.”
The five-day event is expected to be officiated by His Excellency Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, alongside the SADC Executive Secretary, Ministers responsible for Energy, and high-level representatives from international, regional, and national institutions, as well as the private sector and development partners.
The SADC Sustainable Energy Week serves as a regional platform to promote investment, partnerships, and innovation in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors across the entire energy value chain. The 2026 edition will place particular emphasis on policy and regulatory frameworks, enabling environments, innovative and blended financing solutions, grid integration, energy efficiency, renewable energy technologies, clean cooking solutions, energy storage, and other priority areas supporting the region’s energy transition.
The programme will comprise high-level plenary sessions, thematic presentations, break-out sessions, and technical site visits, aimed at facilitating knowledge exchange, showcasing best practices, and accelerating the implementation of sustainable energy solutions in the SADC region.
