The Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) was launched by African and European Heads of State in 2007 at the AU-EU Summit. The overall aim of the AEEP is to facilitate the achievement of universal access to affordable, sustainable and modern energy services in Africa, including in rural areas.

Under the AEEP 2020 Political Targets declared in September 2010, the energy access component would bring access to modern and sustainable energy services to at least an additional 100 million Africans, focusing on sustainable models: to provide energy for basic services (health, education, water, communication); to power productive activities; and to provide safe and sustainable energy services to households.

The AEEP is financed by the European Commission and Germany and its Secretariat is hosted by GIZ.