FRI JAN 24 2025-theGBJournal| The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) partnership of 50+ organizations has received an inaugural Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) Award for Philanthropic-Public-Private Partnership at the World Economic Forum.
This award recognizes the impact of scalable, innovative collaborations that are leveraging the contributions of philanthropy, government and private sector stakeholders to tackle climate change.
GEAPP was recognized for its efforts in uniting partners across sectors to develop and scale renewable energy solutions in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, including building an Alliance of 50+ partners, mobilizing $1.07 billion to fund 130 projects in 40 countries, averting an estimated 147,000 tons of carbon emissions and supporting the livelihoods of over 2 million people within its first two years.
“The climate crisis is a global problem that requires global solutions, and GEAPP’s recognition at the inaugural GAEA Awards is a testament to the power of radical collaboration as a key driver of change. Our Alliance is excited to be part of a community of such inspiring peers,” Woochong Um, CEO of GEAPP said.
”We urgently need to build this movement and the resources going towards the opportunity of renewable energy. We look forward to establishing new connections to drive change and accelerate our mission of expanding renewable energy access to one billion people around the world, averting 4 gigatons of carbon emissions and enabling 150 million sustainable livelihoods through job creation and the productive use of energy.”
GEAPP’s Alliance model pioneers transformational clean energy projects across emerging markets to support global ambitions to achieve a sustainable future for all. Through the deployment of blended finance and flexible capital solutions to address market barriers, GEAPP maximizes the power of catalytic capital, bringing together multilateral development banks, governments, private sector, non-governmental organizations, communities and philanthropies, unlocking commercial and public financing.
In 2023, GEAPP launched the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Consortium, a multi-stakeholder partnership of countries and resource partners to expand battery storage capacity in lower- and middle-income countries.
Battery storage systems are a central component to increasing the reliability of grids and accommodating the variable renewable energy sources that are needed to power economic development.
To date, more than 15 countries and 20 resource partners have committed to the Consortium, which is fast tracking flagship projects in every region and aggregating additional pipelines.
The BESS Consortium is just one example of the radical collaboration and bold action that enables the Alliance to foster a people-positive energy revolution that places prosperity for people and the planet at the heart of climate action.
In 2024, GEAPP and the Government of Malawi launched the construction of a 20 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Malawi. This project is a beacon of hope and resilience for Malawi which aspires to achieve universal electricity access with a grid contributing at least 50% of the country’s electricity by 2030.
GEAPP has committed up to $20 million in grant funding to enable the design, installation, and operation of the Alliance’s first BESS project in Africa.
The project will significantly reduce power outages and enhance the reliability and stability of clean energy for houses, industries, and critical public infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and water supply systems connected to Malawi’s national grid.
Other work centers around distributed renewable energy (DRE) initiatives, including GEAPP’s technical assistance program within Mission 300 – an ambitious project launched jointly by the World Bank and the Africa Development Bank to bring energy to 300 million people in Africa by the end of the decade.
Through this work and a focus on jobs and livelihoods, GEAPP is delivering on its mission of reducing energy poverty and creating sustainable opportunities for all.
GEAPP has won the Catalytic Philanthropic-Public-Private Partnership Award at the World Economic Forum on the eve of the World Bank and African development bank-led Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit.
GEAPP is a key supporting partner of the major global gathering to convene heads of state from across Africa, private sector investors, multilateral development banks, philanthropies, and partners committed to mobilize an unprecedented level of support to connect 300 million people in Africa to electricity by 2030.
The Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) Awards recognize groundbreaking partnerships, like GEAPP, that are tackling global climate and nature challenges with innovative, scalable solutions. From over 120 initial nominations, the winners were selected by an expert independent jury comprised of leading experts from across the climate and nature ecosystem.
In addition to GEAPP, four other awardees were honored for pioneering, adaptable, impact-driven efforts in science, innovation, business action, and intergenerational leadership.
As an awardee, GEAPP will join the GAEA Awards community, gaining access to a global network that will help raise the Alliance’s profile and mobilize new partnerships. GEAPP will also receive tailored support from the Forum alongside a cross-sector community of experts to scale impact and drive systems-wide change.
“The GAEA Awards recognize institutions and partnerships that are catalyzing transformative change for climate and nature,” said Gim Huay Neo, Managing Director, World Economic Forum. “By showcasing successful innovations and collaborations across industry partners, and between government, business and civil society, we hope to inspire more to step forward and work together to shape a sustainable future for all.”
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