The Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) aims to accelerate and scale up the harnessing of the renewable energy potential in Africa. It plans to achieve at least 10 GW of new and additional renewable energy power generation capacity by 2020 and mobilize the potential for such a capacity to least 300 GW by 2030.

AREI identified 5 core work areas: 1) Mapping of renewable energy policies, regulations, experiences and programmes; 2) Strengthening of policy, regulatory and support frameworks; 3) Capacity mobilization and building; 4) Mobilization of finance for incentives and investment; 5) Project development and support.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) serve as Trustee for the initiative and host for the Independent Delivery Unit (IDU), which also provides Secretariat support.