By Cecilia Chiluba/Zambia/Lusaka
Zambia will host the historic Continental Energy and Infrastructure Investment Forum (CEIIF) 2026, signaling the country’s rising influence in SADC- Pan African investment.
The CEIIF 2026 will be hosted in Lusaka from 2 to 5 February 2026, becoming the first edition of the Forum to convene outside South Africa since its inception.
It will comprise two days of high-level policy dialogue and structured business-to-government engagements, followed by two days of strategic site visits to priority energy and infrastructure assets across Zambia.
The hosting of the event reflects Zambia’s rising strategic importance within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and its increasing profile as a destination for large-scale energy, infrastructure and industrial investment.
CEIIF is a leading pan-African investment platform focused on mobilizing capital, strengthening regional cooperation and accelerating the development of bankable energy and infrastructure projects.
According to a statement issued by organizers of the forum, the programme has been deliberately designed to move beyond dialogue by advancing bankable projects, concrete investment commitments and the implementation of strategic partnerships.
CEIIF has firmly established itself as a flagship pan-African investment platform, convening governments, investors, project developers, development finance institutions and the private sector to advance energy security, infrastructure development and regional industrialization across the continent.
“The 2026 edition takes place at a pivotal moment, as Africa accelerates efforts to close infrastructure gaps, scale energy access and unlock inclusive and sustainable economic growth,” the statement read in part.
High-level African leadership expected to grace the occasion include Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema, the Commissioner for Energy, Infrastructure and Digitization at the African Union, senior members of the Zambian Government, and invited Ministers from Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
“This strong participation underscores CEIIF’s alignment with Zambia’s national development priorities, the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan, and broader continental objectives under Agenda 2063.”
The Forum remains a flagship pan-African platform advancing energy security, infrastructure development and regional industrialization.
The CEIIF 2026 Zambia Programme will focus on a pragmatic, Africa-led approach to coal and the introduction of nuclear energy into national energy mixes, skills development and institutional capacity building, as well as strategic planning for the responsible extraction and beneficiation of Africa’s critical minerals.
