SA, Senegal land Open Society Foundations climate funding

A performance group called the Red Rebels joins hundreds of people taking part in a Global Climate Strike protest in Cape Town, protesting the causes of global climate change. (Rodger Bosch/AFP)

• South Africa, Senegal, Brazil, Mexico, Malaysia and Indonesia were the selected global South countries for the funding.
• South Africa was included because its industrial policy models provide key lessons that can be adapted for other countries.
• Senegal’s new government opened an opportunity to pursue structural changes that will tackle socio-economic challenges facing the country and West Africa.

Only two African countries, South Africa and Senegal, will be getting money from a giant Open Society Foundations (OSF) green energy fund later this year, in part thanks to governments that have shown dedication in dealing with climate change. 

“There is a level of complexity to choosing priority countries in Africa,” Laura Carvalho, director of economic and climate prosperity at the Open Society Foundations, told News24.

“We wanted some variety in terms of geographic representation, economic structures, institutional development, the level of engagement of the government in green industrial policy, and the potential and prospects of climate transitions, among other things.”

The OSF fund is worth some R8 billion over the next five years, and the two African countries will draw money from it alongside Brazil, Mexico, Malaysia and Indonesia in a first round due later this year.

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South Africa was attractive because it is industrialised by African standards – offering an opportunity to test models that can be implemented elsewhere – and is at the forefront of conversations on a just energy transition, said Carvalho.

“It also plays a leading role within Africa and globally, representing Global South voices in international forums such as G20 and BRICS.”

In Senegal, the election of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye in April put a progressive, reformist government in place. 

“The government presents a great promise for the people of Senegal and in the region and opens an opportunity to pursue structural changes that will tackle socio-economic challenges facing the country and the region,” said Carvalho.

An activist from the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion (XR) takes part in a protest to draw attention on missing UK journalist Dom Phillips and Brazilian Indigenous affairs specialist Bruno Pereira near the European Commission building in Brussels. (Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP)

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OSF seeks to invest in the development of green and equitable economic models that can deliver both climate action and economic development.

However, each country has its own needs, it says.

“A one-size-fits-all approach will not work. In the case of SA, the government is already undertaking a massive effort to develop plans for different sectors and industries.

“We aim to complement these efforts. Top-down prescriptive recommendations have not worked. We want to invest in ideas that are homegrown and locally owned.

“Therefore, we will support efforts to generate knowledge, develop policy options, engage civil society, and build capacity in our target countries and beyond,” said Carvalho.

Youths hold placards and carry a snake-shaped object made of plastic waste during their protest against the climate change on the street during a car-free day in Jakarta. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP)

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For developing nations, most of them in Africa, the climate transition represents a once-in-a-century chance to advance on the development ladder.

But it’s important that this shift be reasonable and equitable, taking into consideration inequalities both within and between nations.

This especially considering that Africa contributes the least carbon emissions at 4% but is the most affected.

The News24 Africa Desk is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The stories produced through the Africa Desk and the opinions and statements that may be contained herein do not reflect those of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.