Korea and Africa: Partnerships on Climate and Energy

The document explores the evolving relationship between Korea and Africa, focusing on how Korea's carbon-neutrality goals and technological expertise can support Africa's climate resilience. It identifies key areas for partnership, including renewable energy, green minerals for batteries, smart city development, and climate-resilient agriculture, while emphasizing the need for these initiatives to be African-led and aligned with the AU's strategic framework.

• Korea's transition toward carbon neutrality, specifically its goal to reduce energy imports (mainly coal) by 18% and increase renewable energy by 30–35% by 2040, will impact its trade with African exporters of fossil fuels but creates opportunities for increased investment in Africa's solar, hydro, and wind energy sectors.
• Africa's abundance of 'green' minerals—such as cobalt in the DRC (approximately 70% of global reserves) and lithium in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Namibia—presents a strategic opportunity for Korea to secure its battery manufacturing supply chain for electric vehicles while allowing African nations to pursue local value addition and manufacturing.
• Korea has established several mechanisms to support African urban development and digitalization, including the Smart Africa Alliance/Korea partnership and the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organisation (WeGO), with projects already launched in Benin, Ghana, Rwanda, and Tunisia.
• Collaboration in agriculture is being pursued through the Korea-Africa Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (KAFACI) and the Africa–Korea Disruptive Agricultural Technology (DAT) platform, the latter of which connects agri-tech start-ups in Korea and Africa to improve climate-resilient farming in countries like Kenya and Uganda.
• The African Union's African Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy (2022–2032) emphasizes a people-centered, African-led approach to climate resilience, focusing on nine pillars including a just transition and the conservation of ecosystems.

APA

SACK, H., & PHORÉ, S. (2022). Korea and Africa: Partnerships on Climate and Energy. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Occasional-Paper-335-sack-phore-2.pdf

Chicago

SACK, HANNAH, and SIMONE PHORÉ. Korea and Africa: Partnerships on Climate and Energy. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2022. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Occasional-Paper-335-sack-phore-2.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=SACK |first1=HANNAH |last2=PHORÉ |first2=SIMONE |title=Korea and Africa: Partnerships on Climate and Energy |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=August 2022 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Occasional-Paper-335-sack-phore-2.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sack2022korea, author = {SACK, HANNAH and PHORÉ, SIMONE}, title = {{Korea and Africa: Partnerships on Climate and Energy}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2022}, month = aug, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Occasional-Paper-335-sack-phore-2.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }