Advancing waste-to-energy solutions in African cities through EU collaboration
Published: 8 Dec 2025
Events
General
Success Stories
The Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) recently marked a significant milestone in supporting sustainable urban development with the implementation of the GCoM–Ökobit biogas pilot project across three African cities: Mombasa County (Kenya), Basse Area Council (The Gambia), and Sekondi-Takoradi Municipal Assembly (Ghana).
As a regional initiative driving climate action at the local level, CoM SSA plays a catalytic role in helping African cities move from planning to implementation. The biogas pilot is more than a standalone project, it demonstrates CoM SSA’s ability to connect cities with innovative technologies, unlock private-sector partnerships, and open pathways to scalable climate solutions. By facilitating access to technical expertise, strengthening operational readiness, and linking cities to global initiatives such as GCoM and the EU’s Global Gateway, CoM SSA ensures that African cities are not only beneficiaries of innovation but co-drivers of climate-resilient, inclusive development.
exchanging with Eluide Miller, Deputy Mayor of Belize City (Belize).
This initiative arose from a successful matchmaking event in Cape Town in June 2025, which connected cities with innovative European SMEs. Through this collaboration, Ökobit, a German SME specializing in biogas systems, partnered with the three cities to design and implement context-specific solutions for organic waste management and renewable energy generation. In each of the cities, the biogas systems will be installed a selected schools in the cities. Mombasa County will also serve as a demonstration hub for local training and operational lessons.
A key milestone in the project was the delegation’s participation at the Smart Cities Expo & World Congress (SCEWC) 2025 in Barcelona, Spain (4–6 November). Invited and funded by the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM), the CoM SSA delegation from the three cities used the platform to showcase the pilot project during the GCoM Implementation and Impact Session. The session highlighted how cities are translating climate commitments into actionable solutions and offered an opportunity for the three cities to reconnect with Ökobit in person to discuss implementation timelines and next steps.
Why this matters for African cities
African municipalities face growing pressure to manage waste sustainably, reduce emissions, and introduce affordable, decentralised energy solutions that can operate even where infrastructure is limited. This pilot demonstrates a practical model that cities can adopt. By installing systems within public schools and involving local SMEs in installation and maintenance, the project builds local technical capacity, reduces operational costs, and creates a foundation for future scale-up.
Kofi Yeboah, Sekondai-Takoradi Municipal Assembly (Ghana); Oekobit (Germany), Mahamadou Ceesay, Mayor of Basse (The Gambia);
Francis Thoya, Deputy Governor, Mombasa County (Kenya) & Basil Angaga, Mombasa County (Kenya)
Why this matters for EU–Africa collaboration
This initiative offers a tangible example of the EU’s Global Gateway in action, bringing European technical expertise together with African cities’ needs to deliver practical, climate-relevant infrastructure. By enabling a European SME to work directly with African local governments, the pilot strengthens cross-continental business relationships, builds trust, and lays the groundwork for larger or replicated investments. The collaboration between Ökobit, GCoM, CoM SSA, and the three cities provides a model for future EU–Africa partnerships where innovation, local ownership, and practical climate solutions reinforce each other.
coordinating the Smart Cities Marketplace and sharing insights from CoM SSA
The CoM SSA Secretariat continues to strengthen connections between African cities, SMEs (in both Europe and Africa), and global climate initiatives, reinforcing the region’s commitment to innovative, locally-driven solutions for climate resilience and sustainable urban development.
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