In a crucial step towards securing a sustainable and energy-efficient future for the African continent, the African Union (AU) launched the African Energy Efficiency Programme and the African Energy Efficiency Alliance at COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The high-level meeting, organised by the African Energy Commission (AFREC) of the African Union at the Africa Pavilion, underscored the role of energy efficiency in closing the energy access gap and driving the transformation of Africa's energy systems.