The Republic of Mauritius has become first African nation and the fourth globally (after Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Cuba) to sign a Country Partnership Framework (CPF) with the International Solar Alliance (ISA), advancing its clean energy transition through enhanced solar cooperation. This three‑year partnership aims to accelerate Mauritius’s clean energy transition through targeted solar initiatives.
Key Highlights of CPF
Objective: Accelerate solar energy deployment, support regulatory frameworks, and drive clean energy transition in Mauritius.
Partnership Scope:
- Develop a Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) tailored to Mauritius’s solar potential.
- Review/develop solar roadmaps and regulatory frameworks to unlock solar investments.
Technical & Capacity‑Building Components:
- Establish a Solar Technology Application Resource Centre (STAR‑C).
- Training on technical, regulatory, and financing aspects of solar deployment.
Solar Deployment Priorities:
- Rooftop solar and floating solar projects.
- Solar agrivoltaics for combined farming and power generation.
- Solar water pumping systems for irrigation.
- Solar for green hydrogen production.
Country Partnership Framework (CPF)
Definition: A structured, multi-year agreement between ISA and a member country to guide joint solar initiatives for medium‑ to long‑term cooperation.
Objective: Provide a structured roadmap for joint solar projects and policy support to drive clean energy transitions.
Duration & Renewal: Valid for three years, renewable upon mutual consent.
Outcomes: Accelerated solar adoption, improved energy access, reduced carbon footprint.
ISA’s Ongoing Role in Mauritius
Founding Member: Mauritius has been an ISA founding member since 2015.
Healthcare Solarisation:
- Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital (est. 1984) was solarised under the ISA CARES Initiative in June 2024, demonstrating ISA’s focus on Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Founding Member Commitment:
- Mauritius actively engages in ISA’s action‑oriented platform to enhance energy access, security, and climate resilience.
About International Solar Alliance (ISA)
Establishment: Treaty‑based intergovernmental organization
Launched: In 2015 during COP21 in Paris, by India and France.
Aim: To promote solar energy usage across member countries, particularly those between Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
Vision: “Let us together make the sun brighter.”
Mission: Ensure every home—no matter how remote—has solar-powered light.
Headquarters: Interim Secretariat in Gurugram, India.
Goal: Mobilize US$ 1 trillion in solar investments by 2030.
Functions:
- Facilitate solar technology deployment
- Enhance energy access, security, and green transition
- Provide capacity building, policy support, and project facilitation
About Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
SIDS: Small island nations facing unique social, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities.
Regions: Caribbean | Pacific | Atlantic, Indian Ocean & South China Sea (AIS)
Examples: Maldives, Seychelles, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Guyana, Singapore, Mauritius
UN Recognition: Designated a “special case” at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit due to their distinctive challenges and development needs.
Significance
- Regional Leadership: Positions Mauritius as a solar pioneer in Africa, showcasing the viability of CPF-driven cooperation.
- Clean Energy Transition: Provides a blueprint for scaling solar projects and building institutional capacity.
- Economic & Social Impact: Drives job creation, enhances energy security, and supports sustainable development.
- Strengthens ISA’s role in supporting SIDS with resilient, off‑grid, and on‑grid solar solutions.