Business Talk – DBSA executive Mpho Mokwele unpacks the key takeaways from COP29

In this Business Talk with Michael Avery interview, Mpho Mokwele discusses the biggest takeaways from COP29 and how they will impact private capital investments in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Mokwele is Group Executive for the Transaction Division of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).

He is a qualified Chartered Accountant – with 16 years of experience in corporate and project finance – and has been instrumental in leading the DBSA’s investments under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Programme.

To date, his team has executed over 62 infrastructure projects – including 35 renewable energy projects in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Before working at the DBSA, Mokwele worked at KPMG as a senior manager in the corporate finance division.

The interview

In this Business Talk interview, Mokwele discusses why it was important for Africa to have a strong voice at COP29.

He discusses the biggest hurdles Africa faces in attracting private capital for its renewable energy industry, and reveals the ideas he believes can stimulate interest in the short term.

Mokwele then discusses the DBSA, explaining how it balances its dual mandates of financial sustainability and developmental impact when tackling private capital challenges.

He also unpacks how innovative financial tools will play a key role in achieving the needed scale of operations for Sub-Saharan Africa to grow its renewable energy industry.

Mokwele concludes the interview by outlining the most notable talking points from COP29 that will have an impact on Africa.

Watch the full interview with Mpho Mokwele below.