Kandeh Yumkella Named to Global High-Level Panel on Universal Energy Abundance
Freetown, Sierra Leone — 15 April 2026: Hon. Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, Chairman of Sierra Leone’s Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF), has been appointed to a newly established High-Level Panel on Universal Energy Abundance.
Launched by the Rockefeller Foundation in partnership with Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, the panel aims to advance a bold vision: ensuring that everyone has access to reliable, affordable energy at levels sufficient to drive industrialization, job creation, and broad-based prosperity in emerging and developing economies.
A Global Effort to Close the Energy Gap
Announced on April 14, 2026, the panel convenes leading policymakers, industry executives, and development experts to address one of the most pressing global challenges—universal energy access at scale.
Chaired by former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, the group includes distinguished leaders from international institutions, including the International Energy Agency and major finance and infrastructure bodies.
Yumkella and Bachelet share a long history of collaboration within the United Nations system, having served as heads of United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and UN Women respectively. Their past engagements include joint advocacy on sustainable development and participation in global initiatives such as Sustainable Energy for All.
The panel’s mission goes beyond basic electrification, focusing instead on “energy abundance”—ensuring that countries have the energy capacity required for sustained economic transformation. This is particularly urgent as an estimated 730 million people worldwide still lack access to electricity.
Between 2026 and 2027, the panel will explore solutions across four priority areas:
Expanding energy systems at scale
Leveraging emerging technologies
Mobilizing sustainable financing
Strengthening policy and regulatory frameworks
Yumkella’s Strategic Relevance
With over three decades of experience, Yumkella is widely recognized for his leadership in sustainable energy and development. A development economist with expertise in agricultural economics, he played a pivotal role in advancing global consensus around the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 7 (energy access) and SDG 9 (industrialization and infrastructure).
As Chairman of PI-CREF, he is actively advancing Sierra Leone’s national energy transformation agenda, including expanding access, increasing generation capacity, and improving electrification. Alongside the Minister of Finance, he also co-led the team that developed Sierra Leone’s Mission 300 Compact.
He also serves as Special Envoy of President Julius Maada Bio for the West Africa Integration and Investment Summit (WAIIS 2026), where he is coordinating regional efforts to drive economic integration across four strategic pillars:
Energy Trade and Industrial Growth
Strategic Minerals and Natural Resource Development
Agribusiness and Food Systems Transformation
Digital Transformation and Connectivity
In preparation for the summit, Yumkella is leading an Expert Group Meeting and Ministerial Conference in late April 2026, aimed at validating investment pipelines, aligning policy frameworks, and adopting the Freetown Communiqué to guide regional action.
Amplifying Africa’s Voice
Yumkella’s appointment ensures that Africa’s perspectives are represented at the highest levels of global energy decision-making. The continent faces the dual challenge of closing persistent energy access gaps while powering industrial growth and climate-resilient development.
His experience across multilateral institutions and national policy frameworks positions him to advocate for practical, scalable solutions tailored to developing economies—including innovative financing, decentralized energy systems, and regional energy integration.
A Timely Appointment
The panel’s formation comes at a critical moment for global energy systems, which are under increasing strain from geopolitical tensions, climate change, and rising demand driven by digitalization and industrial expansion.
In this context, the concept of energy abundance reframes the global conversation—from simply expanding access to ensuring sufficient energy for long-term economic transformation.
Yumkella’s inclusion reflects both his global standing and the growing importance of African leadership in shaping the future of energy.
Looking Ahead
The panel is expected to conclude its work with a major report in 2028, outlining actionable policy recommendations and investment strategies to accelerate progress toward universal energy abundance.
For Sierra Leone and the wider African region, Yumkella’s role represents a strategic opportunity to help shape a more inclusive, sustainable, and development-driven global energy future.
Contact:
Anthony Abdul Karim Kamara, Jnr | Director – Partnerships, Communications and Outreach Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF) Executive Office of the President | State House | Freetown
Tel: +232.78.795.305 | Email: akkamara@statehouse.gov.sl