26 June 2026: Mozambique is taking a major step toward climate-resilient development with the launch of a 7-year rural electrification initiative that will expand access to clean energy, strengthen rural livelihoods and avoid an estimated 399,131 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions over its lifetime. The project reflects a long-term commitment by national and international partners to advance Mozambique's energy transition while helping vulnerable communities adapt to growing climate risks.

Among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, Mozambique faces increasing exposure to floods, droughts, tropical cyclones and extreme temperatures. These climate shocks disproportionately affect rural communities, which account for more than 60 percent of the population and rely heavily on rain-fed agriculture and traditional biomass for energy.

In response to these challenges, the new project funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and implemented by Enabel, the Belgian Agency for International Cooperation; FUNAE, Mozambique’s National Energy Fund which is the country’s implementation agency for off-grid and rural electrification affairs; and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), the energy-focused UN-aligned organization, will impact 225,000 people (52% of which being women) through solar-powered mini-grids across rural communities while supporting the adoption of Productive Uses of Renewable Energy (PURE) technologies that improve livelihoods and reduce climate vulnerability.

Representatives from the three organizations emphasized the importance of coordinated action and country-led implementation in achieving Mozambique’s ambitious energy, development and climate goals.

Lolade Abiola, Chief of Staff at Sustainable Energy for All said:

“By aligning renewable energy deployment with climate-resilient economic development, the project offers a scalable and country-owned model for inclusive green growth in Mozambique. Designed with long-term sustainability in mind, the project adopts a performance-based, market-driven financing approach. Mini-grid developers will co-finance a portion of capital costs, while PURE incentives will be tailored to evolving market conditions. These mechanisms are intended to de-risk early-stage investments, stimulate private sector participation, and gradually reduce dependence on concessional finance.”

Mety Gondola, CEO of FUNAE during his speech at the subsidiary agreement signing ceremony said:

“…this project is the start of the Government’s commitment to making a difference in the lives of local residents. Energy will act as a platform through which social transformation can be achieved.”

While praising the Government’s leadership and coordination efforts that enabled this initiative, Adriaan Tas, Country Director of Enabel in Mozambique said:

“What makes this project exciting is that it treats rural energy demand as a market to be built, and it asks the private sector to build it with us. Productive use of energy is where access becomes income, and where climate finance starts paying for itself in livelihoods.”

The project will support rural Mozambicans to gain increased resilience through improved food and water security, diversified livelihoods, and enhanced access to health and education services. The initiative will also support the deployment of approximately 300 to 400 climate-smart PURE solutions, helping to create more resilient and productive rural value chains.

The project will also operationalize Mozambique’s new mini-grid regulatory framework by introducing competitive procurement processes, streamlining licensing procedures and reinforcing regulatory compliance across project sites.

The project forms part of a broader government-led Country Platform that brings together public institutions, development partners, and financiers to align policies, coordinate investments, and streamline technical support. This collaborative mechanism is expected to unlock a new level of national transformation and accelerate progress toward Mozambique’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), Energy Transition Strategy and off-grid electrification targets.

25 June 2026: Zambia is to invest millions of dollars of savings realised through the successful $1.36 billion debt buyback in projects to provide reliable and affordable electricity access as part of an innovative transaction backed by the African Development Bank Group.

In a pioneering approach to development finance, the government of Zambia used a $600 million loan from the African Development Bank Group coupled with its own resources to buy back the $1.36 billion sovereign Eurobond.

As part of savings which could have gone into future debt servicing, the Zambian government has committed to earmark $275 million, to be invested in the country’s energy sector, an approach that could be emulated by other African countries to unlock development financing.

Nkulukusa outlined the government's 15-year vision for the programme, framing it as a direct response to constraints that have long held Zambia back.

The operation aligns with the Four Cardinal Points of the African Development Bank Group, particularly the priorities of enhancing access to capital and building climate resilient infrastructure. It also complements broader efforts to expand access to affordable, dependable, and sustainable energy throughout the continent.

Zambia has made significant progress in implementing economic reforms and restoring macroeconomic stability. The transaction supports the country's commitment to strengthening public finances while investing in a stronger and more resilient electricity network that is critical to supporting growth in mining, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and other sectors of the economy.

The African Development Bank Group remains committed to working with Zambia and its development partners to advance innovative financing solutions that promote sustainable development and improve the lives of citizens.

25 June 2026: Eastern Africa stands to gain more affordable, reliable, and cleaner electricity as countries strengthen cross-border power trade and regional energy cooperation. To help deliver this transformation, the World Bank Group Board has approved a $1.6 billion financing package for the Regional Energy Transmission, Trade & Decarbonization program for Eastern Africa (RETRADE-EA), a 10-year initiative to accelerate regional power integration, expand energy access, and unlock economic opportunity.

RETRADE-EA will finance both infrastructure and institutional capacity development needed to enable efficient regional power trade. The program will strengthen cross-border connectivity, improve system resilience, and facilitate the integration of countries that remain outside the regional grid, including Somalia. It will also support the launch of the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) Day-Ahead Market, strengthen regional system planning and operations, improve governance and regulatory harmonization, and promote greater private sector participation, including through Independent Transmission Projects.

The first phase of the program includes the Uganda-Tanzania Interconnector Project (UTIP), supported by $250 million in concessional finance from the International Development Association for Uganda. The project will finance the construction of a new high-voltage electricity transmission line connecting Uganda to Tanzania, creating a critical connection between Uganda’s surplus clean energy resources and regional electricity markets.

The first phase of the RETRADE-EA program also includes a $10 million IDA grant and a $3.5 million grant from the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) to the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) for the Regional Power Trade and Market Project (RTMP). The project will strengthen regional market coordination and institutional capacity, resulting in more than 5,000 gigawatt-hours of cross-border electricity trade annually by 2031, greater market integration between the EAPP and the South African Power Pool, and enhanced energy security and affordability for member states.

Uganda currently generates more electricity than it consumes domestically, with significant surplus hydropower going underutilized. The UTIP project addresses this directly by financing the construction of approximately 260 kilometers of 400 kilovolt double-circuit transmission line running from Wobulenzi to Masaka to Mutukula on the Uganda-Tanzania border. The new line will create a transfer capacity of 1,000 megawatts, establishing a critical physical link between Uganda and the regional grid.

By the UTIP project's target end-date of 2031, at least 452 gigawatt-hours of electricity are expected to be traded between Uganda and Tanzania annually. Across the wider Eastern Africa Power Pool, the shift from expensive, polluting thermal generation to Uganda's clean hydropower is projected to avoid 25.8 million metric tons of CO2 emissions — a meaningful contribution to regional decarbonization.

23 June 2026: Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and the Global Climate Finance Centre (GCFC) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate climate finance action across emerging and developing markets through capacity building, strategic convenings and innovative financing solutions.

At a time when implementation is taking centre stage in global climate discussions, the partnership reflects a growing recognition that delivering the energy transition will require stronger institutions, deeper financial markets and greater collaboration between public and private actors.

The partnership will strengthen collaboration in key areas, including climate finance training, institutional investor engagement and stakeholder convenings, with an initial focus on countries such as Nigeria, Senegal and Ethiopia.

Together, SEforALL and GCFC will develop and deliver climate finance training programmes for financial institutions, leveraging GCFC's expertise in climate finance innovation and market intelligence alongside SEforALL's extensive country networks and implementation experience across emerging and developing economies.

The organizations will also explore opportunities to jointly convene governments, investors and development partners through high-level dialogues, roundtables and public forums to accelerate climate finance flows where demand is greatest. In addition, the partnership will explore innovative approaches to unlocking new sources of climate finance for energy transition projects.

Omar Saif, Vice President, Global Climate Finance Centre, said:

"Climate finance must move faster, reach further and become more accessible to emerging markets. Through this partnership, we will help strengthen institutions, build local capacity and create practical pathways for mobilizing investment where it can deliver the greatest impact."

Mikael Melin, Director of Partnerships & Development, SEforALL, said:

"The energy transition is not just about mobilizing more finance. It's about ensuring countries have the right partnerships and tools to turn investment into real progress for people and communities."

The MoU was signed on the sidelines of London Climate Action Week by Mikael Melin, Director of Partnerships & Development at SEforALL, and Omar Saif, Vice President of the Global Climate Finance Centre.

As London Climate Action Week places increasing emphasis on implementation, the partnership reflects a broader shift in the global climate agenda from setting targets to building the systems, institutions and financing mechanisms required to deliver them.

By combining their expertise, networks and resources, SEforALL and GCFC aim to help countries unlock greater flows of climate finance, strengthen investment ecosystems and accelerate progress towards sustainable, resilient and inclusive economies.

23 June 2026: The Alliance for Renewable Electrification (ARE) welcomes a landmark global electrification target announced by COP31 President-Designate Murat Kurum, calling for electricity’s share of final energy demand to rise from just over 20% today to 35% by 2035.

This is a major policy win and one that reflects months of collective advocacy. ARE is proud to be part of the #ElectrifyNow campaign, a growing coalition of leading renewable energy advocates pushing for a dedicated global electrification target alongside renewable energy and energy efficiency goals.

Today, the COP31 Presidency answered that call. This is also a signal from governments and businesses around the world that renewable electrification, across the board, is the right path to securing cheap, abundant, reliable and homegrown energy.

For ARE, which turbocharges renewable electrification across emerging countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America & The Caribbean, this announcement validates both the urgency and the opportunity of powering people and businesses. Over 666 million people remain without electricity today, and 18 of the 20 countries with the largest electricity access deficits are in sub-Saharan Africa. Businesses across emerging markets are held back too — stunted by chronic outages and often forced to depend on costly, polluting diesel generators that expose them to oil price volatility and pollution.

Power is also the starting point for any business: without it, enterprises cannot start, grow, or drive the sustainable economic development their communities need. It is precisely in these markets that the opportunity to leapfrog to a renewable electrification economy is greatest.

A global target means little without global delivery. Reaching 35% by 2035 demands a massive acceleration in investment, infrastructure build-out, and private sector mobilisation — particularly in developing countries, where the need is most acute and the opportunity is largest.

Therefore, ARE joins #ElectrifyNow in calling for faster action to put electrification at the centre of energy policy and accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels — and stands ready, with its members, to translate this target into power on the ground, project by project, grid by grid, community by community, uniting power for people, for industry, and for entire countries.

We call on governments, development finance institutions, institutional and private investors, and other international funding partners to align their resources and policies behind this goal, ensuring the energy transition is truly global and leaves no country, and no market, behind. ARE and its Members look forward to pushing for the full securing of this target at COP31 Türkiye.

“A target without finance is just a number. But a target with the world’s attention behind it, that is a catalyst. With over 666 million people still without electricity and the urgent need to power businesses and industry in emerging markets, the case for rapid and scaled-up action could not be clearer. ARE and its Members are ready to deliver. We call on every government, every development bank, and every private investor to match this ambition with adequate capital and a relentless focus on execution.” — David Lecoque, CEO, Alliance for Renewable Electrification.

The advocacy has already begun, and with the COP31 Presidency now lending its full weight to this target, the path ahead looks brighter than ever. We applaud the Presidency for this bold commitment and look forward, with renewed determination, to the road ahead — all the way to COP32 in Ethiopia.

22 June 2026: Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration on sustainable energy and climate action across countries in Africa and other emerging and developing economies.

Over the initial 2026 to 2028 period, SEforALL and EBRD will prioritize collaboration on decentralized renewable energy, green finance, carbon markets, sustainable cooling and climate resilience, alongside policy support, technical assistance and knowledge sharing.

The organizations will also explore opportunities to advance initiatives such as Mission 300, the Universal Energy Facility and the Nigeria Distributed Renewable Energy Fund. Areas of collaboration will include expanding mini-grids, increasing access to cooling and agricultural cold chains, supporting local financial institutions in scaling green technologies, and helping countries strengthen policy and regulatory frameworks to attract investment.

The partnership builds on the complementary strengths of both organisations. SEforALL has worked in more than 115 countries to support sustainable energy transitions and mobilized billions of dollars in investment across energy access, energy transition planning, sustainable cooling, green industrialization and energy efficiency. EBRD brings extensive expertise in mobilizing investment, strengthening markets and working with the private sector to build competitive, resilient and sustainable economies across its countries of operation. Under its Green Economy Transition (GET) 2030 Strategy, EBRD is scaling market-enabling investments across six sectors critical to the green transition and aims to mobilize at least €150 billion in cumulative green financing by 2030.

The MoU was signed in London on the sidelines of London Climate Action Week by Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for SEforALL, and Heike Harmgart, Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at EBRD.

Heike Harmgart, Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, EBRD, said:

"The energy transition is ultimately about improving lives while building stronger, more resilient economies. Partnerships are essential to achieving the speed and scale required. This agreement will help us accelerate investment, support country-led solutions and create practical pathways for expanding clean energy access and climate resilience across our countries of operation."

Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, said:

"Delivering a just energy transition at the speed and scale the world needs will require unprecedented collaboration. This partnership demonstrates what that looks like: combining policy expertise, investment and implementation capacity to help countries move faster from ambition to action."

The signing comes at a time when implementation is taking centre stage in global climate discussions. As the focus shifts from commitments to delivery, countries need partners that can mobilize investment, strengthen enabling environments and turn ambition into tangible results. By combining EBRD's investment and market-building expertise with SEforALL's country-level implementation experience and global convening power, the partnership is well-positioned to help countries accelerate sustainable energy transitions at scale.

By combining their expertise, networks and resources, SEforALL and EBRD aim to help countries accelerate progress towards universal energy access, strengthen energy security and build more prosperous and resilient economies.

17 June 2026: Ohmium International Inc., a leading manufacturer of high-efficiency, modular Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzers, and Hynfra P.S.A., a prominent green hydrogen and green ammonia project developer, today announced the signing of a master cooperation agreement to advance green hydrogen projects in Mauritania, Jordan, and Oman.

The cooperation agreement covers the projects’ Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) stage and establishes the framework for ongoing collaboration. Ohmium also will provide technical support and PEM electrolyzer expertise throughout the FEED and development stages for the three hydrogen projects mentioned. These projects are designed to produce green hydrogen for green ammonia applications, advancing energy security and long-term resilience in host countries by building domestically sourced clean energy capacity and reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, while also supplying RFNBO-compliant green ammonia for export, including to European markets.

“We work with multiple technology partners across our green hydrogen and ammonia projects, and we maintain at least two qualified suppliers for each technology category. That's a deliberate choice, and it reflects the complexity of what we're building. Ohmium is one of our PEM electrolyzer partners,” said Tomoho Umeda, CEO of Hynfra.

The cooperation agreement for Hynfra and Ohmium reflects the accelerating global momentum behind green hydrogen as a cornerstone of the energy transition and a critical tool for national energy security. By combining Ohmium’s advanced PEM electrolyzer technology with Hynfra’s exceptional project development expertise and regional relationships, the companies are well-positioned to deliver large-scale green hydrogen and green ammonia solutions that strengthen energy independence across the MENA region.

16 June 2026: The World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group announced today that Mission 300 has connected over 50 million people to electricity across 40 countries — a major milestone toward the initiative's goal of reaching 300 million people by 2030.

Mission 300 is now delivering electricity access at nearly double the pace recorded at the start of the initiative. By investing across the full energy value chain — from generation and transmission to last-mile distribution — it has driven gains in both on-grid and off-grid access, connecting households, businesses, and institutions to power faster than before.

In Tanzania, for example, 7.5 million people have gained access to power under Mission 300 — a five-fold increase in the average annual pace of electrification prior to the initiative — driven by increased financing and growing policy momentum. In Ethiopia, 4.6 million people have been connected, supported by reforms that made grid connections more affordable.

Where past efforts often worked in parallel, Mission 300 aligns governments, partners, and private sector investors around a single shared agenda. That coordination is what is driving faster results: stronger political commitment, deeper policy reform, and the mobilization of resources needed to accelerate electrification and deliver impact on the ground.

To date, the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank Group have committed nearly $15 billion in financing and attracted about $4.5 billion in co-financing for Mission 300-related projects, while additional development partners have pledged more than $7 billion in support of Africa’s energy sector.

Mission 300’s unique approach is also changing the conditions under which private investors participate in African energy markets. By combining government reforms with layered public financing — including grants, guarantees, and concessional loans — the platform is mitigating risks for private providers to serve communities that were previously too costly or difficult to serve.

In Nigeria, more than 4.5 million people have been connected through private sector-led initiatives, demonstrating how well-designed public support and partner financing can help create commercially viable markets.

To date, 30 countries have launched National Energy Compacts, country-led plans to strengthen energy systems, expand affordable power generation, scale renewable energy solutions, promote regional integration, and increase private sector participation. Additional compacts are expected to be launched by Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Djibouti, Gabon, Rwanda and Uganda at the Africa Energy Forum this week.

“Fifty million people connected is a milestone — but the bigger story is the pace and the partnership behind it. Mission 300 is helping countries move faster, connect more people, and build a platform that will last well beyond this effort — one others can use, build on, and scale for years to come. At the end of the day, electricity is not just about power. It is about what it enables: jobs, business, health care, education, and opportunity,” said Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group.

“The 50 million milestone is indeed commendable. This must become the launchpad for faster electrification to enhance food security on account of affordable irrigation; increase capacity to store medicines for better health outcomes, and spur more inclusive economic and social empowerment,” said Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank Group. “Governments, partners, private sector, and others who comprise what has evolved into an M300 movement must double down to achieve access for 300 million people by 2030. We need all hands on deck – literally!"

Partners are leaning into Mission 300

"Connecting over 50 million to electricity is a major milestone for Mission 300. It proves that African-led big bets, empowered by bold investment and partnership, can deliver results quickly and at scale,” said Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. “The Rockefeller Foundation, along with the Global Energy Alliance, has committed more than $100 million to Mission 300 because we know that every new connection means a family with new access to the jobs, education, and the dignity they deserve.”

"The 50 million milestone shows that Mission 300 is moving beyond ambition and delivering real results for people across Africa. These achievements reflect the strong political commitment and implementation capacity of African governments,” said Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All. “Together with our partners, Sustainable Energy for All will continue to support governments in implementing their National Energy Compacts and accelerating progress towards universal energy access by 2030.”

“Achieving electricity connections for 50 million people proves that we can move faster when public, private and philanthropic partners align behind country-led solutions,” said Woochong Um, CEO of Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. “As Africa becomes home to the world's largest young workforce, Mission 300 is the engine that will help power the jobs and economic growth the continent urgently needs.”

Launched in 2024, Mission 300 is a joint initiative of the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and Sustainable Energy for All, and a broad coalition of governments, development institutions, and private sector partners.

10 June 2026: UNOPS, with its hosted entity Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and in partnership with the Ministry of Energy, are engaging private sector companies through a two-day Bidders’ Workshop in Freetown, marking a defining milestone in the Salone Off-Grid Renewable Energy Acceleration (SOGREA) initiative.

The workshop, taking place on 10 and 11 June, brings together pre-qualified private sector companies, government ministries, regulators and development partners to prepare for the deployment of green solar mini-grids that will transform energy access in some of Sierra Leone's most underserved rural communities.

Sierra Leone currently has one of the lowest electricity access rates in the world, with only 36% of the population connected to the national grid and just 6% in rural areas. The Investment Support in the SOGREA Initiative is funded by the European Union and the Government of Denmark, implemented by UNOPS with its hosted entity SEforALL. The partial financial investment support to private companies aims to accelerate energy access for thousands of households and businesses across Sierra Leone. As well as create attractive financial, legal and regulatory frameworks to catalyse renewable energy investments.

The two-day workshop is specifically designed for private companies that have successfully completed pre-qualification under the SOGREA project and qualified to submit site specific applications. The first day (10 June) focuses on developing new green mini-grid sites in communities currently without electricity infrastructure. The second day (11 June) will address the expansion of capacity and upgrade of existing high demand mini-grid sites being operated by three private developers in Sierra Leone.

Through structured sessions, the workshop will equip bidders with the technical and practical knowledge required to successfully construct and operate green mini-grids in Sierra Leone, while strengthening their understanding of the financial, legal and regulatory processes set by the Government of Sierra Leone.

Quotes

Dr Abdul Rahim Jalloh, Deputy Minister of Energy II, Sierra Leone: “The Ministry of Energy, together with the Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission, has strengthened the regulatory framework and committed to cost-reflective tariffs for all private green mini-grid companies investing in Sierra Leone’s energy sector. Today we welcome the private sector partners who will help us increase electricity access by 2028. SOGREA is about giving Sierra Leonean communities the sustainable, reliable electricity they deserve.”

Anita Otubu, Senior Director of the Universal Energy Facility, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL): “The Universal Energy Facility (UEF) was built for moments like this - to bring together results-based financing, private sector dynamism and political commitment to accelerate energy access. Sierra Leone is showing what is possible when we align the right incentives with the right partners.”

Natalia García Romero, Officer in Charge and Senior Project Manager, UNOPS Sierra Leone: “The SOGREA Bidders Workshop is a vital stepping stone as we prepare for the project's implementation phase. By bringing together pre-qualified developers, regulators, and technical experts today, we are fostering the transparency and collaboration required ahead of the upcoming Grant Support Agreement signatures. This workshop ensures private-sector partners are fully equipped and ready to successfully expand clean energy access, drive local economic growth, and transform rural communities across Sierra Leone.”

H.E Ambassador Jacek Jankowski, Head of the EU Delegation in Sierra Leone: “The EUR 22 million allocated to grant-based investment support for the private sector reflects the European Union's strong commitment to Sierra Leone's green transition, universal access to energy, and ambitious climate action under the EU Global Gateway Strategy. This workshop marks the point at which SOGREA moves from planning to implementation, and the European Union stands firmly behind this important step forward.”

H.E. Jakob Linulf, Ambassador of Denmark to Ghana: “The Government of Denmark is pleased to support Sierra Leone’s energy transition, in line with our shared commitment under the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA). With affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy through green mini-grids, Sierra Leone can unlock innovation, empower youth, attract investment, and transform its economy.”

5 June 2026: The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) signed a collaborative partnership agreement with Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI), the UAE’s Federal export credit company.

ECI is bringing a suite of innovative credit insurance and risk mitigation solutions that are highly complementary to ETAF, the Energy Transition Accelerator Financing platform.

ECI has a broad geographic footprint covering 110 countries, with particular focus on Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), South and Southeast Asia, and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) partner countries.

Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, said: “IRENA works with its global Membership and funding partners to facilitate access to financing for renewable energy projects. However, in many developing markets, perceived risks continue to constrain investment. ECI’s participation in IRENA’s ETAF Platform creates new opportunities to attract financing for projects through targeted risk mitigation solutions, helping to close this gap and catalyse greater investment in the energy transition.”

H.E. Raja Al Mazrouei, Chief Executive Officer of ECI, said, “Our partnership with IRENA marks a significant step forward in accelerating the global transition to a sustainable, low-carbon future. At ECI, we believe that addressing financing and risk-related challenges is essential to scaling renewable energy investments, particularly in emerging and high-growth markets. By providing comprehensive credit insurance and risk mitigation solutions to ETAF-supported projects, we aim to enhance investor confidence, unlock greater capital flows, and improve the bankability of clean energy initiatives. This collaboration also reflects ECI’s commitment to advancing climate action, supporting sustainable economic development, and strengthening international cooperation in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 ambitions.”

Established in 2021, the ETAF Platform combines project facilitation, financing matchmaking, and access to risk-mitigation solutions to advance viable projects from pipeline to financing. It also aligns with country energy transition priorities, climate commitments, and sustainable development goals.

The partnership between IRENA and ECI will enable combining the institutions’ project original channels and network of partners on a single platform – the ETAF – maximising chances for renewable energy projects across the globe to get to financing and construction.

ECI’s joining brings ETAF’s partner count to 15, with pledges totalling USD 4.15 billion, highlighting its role as one of the most inclusive financing and de-risking platforms for a renewable-based energy transition.

To learn more about ETAF, click here.

5 June 2026: On 15 May 2026 in Abidjan, the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved €103.14 million in financing for Côte d'Ivoire to extend electricity access to more than 100,000 households and improve service delivery across 18 regions of the country.

The second phase of the Project to Strengthen Electrical System Infrastructure and Electricity Access (PROSER II) has a total cost of €234.56 million. The Islamic Development Bank will co-finance the project with €83.96 million, alongside €47.46 million from the government of Côte d'Ivoire.

The project will enable the electrification of 244 rural localities, spread across 18 regions of Côte d'Ivoire. It will also extend, strengthen and rehabilitate electricity distribution networks in Greater Abidjan, parts of the country's interior, and 12 departmental capitals. It is targeting the connection of more than 107,000 households to the national electricity grid and the installation of 74,010 more efficient and durable LED-type public lighting fixtures, contributing to enhanced public safety, energy efficiency, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

"The approval of PROSER II marks an important milestone in strengthening the Ivorian electrical system. The project will extend people's access to reliable, higher-quality electricity, while supporting local economic development and improving the living conditions of the beneficiaries," said Lamin Barrow, Director General of the African Development Bank Group for West Africa.

The project supports Côte d'Ivoire's ambition to achieve universal access to electricity by 2030, with a particular focus on rural areas, underserved communities, and rapidly growing urban centres.

It is aligned with the country’s National Development Plan (2026–2030) and the National Energy Compact (2025–2030). It also responds to the strategic priorities of the African Development Bank Group, notably the Country Strategy Paper 2023–2028 for Côte d'Ivoire, the Bank Group’s Ten-Year Strategy 2024–2033, and its Four Cardinal Points (CP), in particular CP4, which aims to build climate-resilient infrastructure and enhance value addition.

Beyond infrastructure, the project incorporates significant social and institutional components. It includes targeted actions on youth employability and the economic empowerment of women in the targeted areas, as well as strengthening the planning, implementation, and monitoring capacity of electricity-sector institutions.

Phase one of PROSER was approved in March 2020 and is currently nearing completion. The African Development Bank provided €62.35 million in financing, or 40% of the total cost for the phase of €156.03 million. It enabled the electrification of 1,509 localities (109% of the initial target), the construction of 9,838 kilometres of medium- and low-voltage (MV/LV) distribution power lines, and the creation of 1,527 MV/LV transformer substations.

2 June 2026: At the Compact Delivery and Monitoring Units Convening in Nairobi, the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) unveiled a new initiative under the Africa Energy Sector Technical Assistance Program (AESTAP–Mission 300 Phase I). This strategic program directly supports Mission 300 — a historic, joint commitment by the AfDB and the World Bank Group to grant electricity access to an additional 300 million people across Africa by 2030.

Through AESTAP–Mission 300 Phase I, the African Development Bank Group will provide technical assistance to strengthen Compact Delivery and Monitoring Units (CDMUs), the national platforms established by participating countries to coordinate and drive their energy compacts. As the program implementing partner SEforALL will guide execution over the next 12 months by providing monitoring peer exchanges, stakeholder coordination, and knowledge sharing designed to accelerate Country Compacts.

The program builds on SEforALL’s role as the Secretariat to the Mission 300 Joint Working Group and the Compact Working Group. Over the past two years, these coordination structures, have collectively driven National Energy Compacts with SEforALL managing, technical engagement, cross-border monitoring and stakeholder alignment across all 30 participating nations.

As national delivery hubs, CDMUs coordinate implementation across government institutions, monitor Compact commitments, facilitating stakeholder engagement, and resolve implementation bottlenecks. By strengthening these institutional platforms, the program aims to enhance government delivery capacity, improve coordination, and accelerate implementation of reforms and investments required to achieve universal energy access.

Speaking on the program, representatives from both organizations emphasized the importance of coordinated action, institutional capacity and country-led implementation in achieving Mission 300’s ambitious goals and advancing inclusive economic growth across the continent.

Wale Shonibare, Director for Energy Financial Solutions, Policy and Regulation at the African Development Bank Group said, “Mission 300 is fundamentally about delivery, and turning ambition into results at scale. In line with the African Development Bank’s commitment to accelerate universal energy access and strengthen enabling environments, this new program will play a critical role in strengthening government delivery capacity and enhancing the coordination and monitoring of national-level electrification targets.”

Lolade Abiola, Chief of Staff at Sustainable Energy for All said, “Sustainable Energy for All is proud to support Mission 300 as the dedicated Secretariat team for the Mission 300 Joint Working Group supporting operational frameworks, strategic planning and performance monitoring towards the successful delivery of Mission 300. We also host the Secretariat of the Technical Working Group for the Compact Delivery and Monitoring Units (CDMU), focused on tracking progress and providing technical support to in-country units driving the national implementation of National Energy Compacts. We welcome this new program that will ensure that CDMUs can coordinate implementation and track progress of National Energy Compacts.”

To date, Mission 300 has connected over 50 million people to electricity, with a pipeline of tens of millions more expected by the end of 2026, and has supported 30 countries in launching National Energy Compacts that define targets, reforms, and investment priorities to accelerate access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy by 2030.

For additional information, visit https://www.afdb.org/en/topics-and-sectors/initiatives-and-partnerships/mission-300.

1 June 2026: The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund (ADF) has approved a $59.78 million loan to support the rehabilitation of a key transborder road section linking Benin and Togo as part of efforts to boost regional trade and economic integration in West Africa.

The financing, approved on 21 May, will fund the rehabilitation of 78.8 kilometres of road between Kara and Kabou along the Benin-Togo border as part of the first phase of the Transit Roads and Transport Facilitation Project on the CU18 corridor.

The project is co-financed by the ADF, the concessional lending arm of the African Development Bank Group, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), and the governments of Togo and Benin.

Of the total ADF funding, $50.28 million has been allocated to the Togolese section of the corridor, while the Beninese section will receive $9.5 million.

“This vital corridor will help strengthen economic competitiveness, accelerate the opening up of the inland areas of Benin and Togo, and consolidate sub-regional integration,” said Lamin Barrow, Director General for West Africa at the African Development Bank.

The project includes the upgrading of the corridor stretching from the Benin border at Ouaké through Kémérida, Soundjina, Kara, Djamdé and Kabou into a 3.5-metre dual carriageway, with a six-lane section through the city of Kara. The project will also support the construction and rehabilitation of socio-economic and educational infrastructure; strengthen transport services and logistics along the corridor and introduce measures to reduce trade barriers and improve traffic flow. Capacity-building programmes for project implementing agencies, women’s groups, and youth employment initiatives are also planned.

Road users, particularly women, local producers and residents, are the expected beneficiaries of the project. Poor road conditions and high transport costs have long constrained economic activity and mobility in the region, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, particularly women engaged in cross-border commerce and market gardening.

28 May 2026: The fifth edition of the African Development Bank's Trade Finance Report paints a picture of resilient African financial institutions in the post Covid-19 years, despite a challenging global environment.

The 2025 Trade Finance Report, which provides an updated assessment of Africa's trade finance landscape over the 2020–2024 period following the COVID-19 pandemic, was released on Wednesday, during the Bank Group’s 2026 Annual Meetings, taking place in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

The report examines trade finance from a bank-intermediation perspective, filling important knowledge gaps while introducing new dimensions such as digitalization and environmental sustainability. It also, for the first time, quantifies the contribution of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) to trade finance on the continent.

Presenting the report, Anthony Simpasa, Director of the Macroeconomic Policy, Forecasting and Research Department at the African Development Bank, said unmet demand for trade finance declined by nearly 10% between 2019 and 2024, supported by strong interventions from multilateral development banks, governments, export credit agencies, and global banks. These interventions were critical in sustaining trade flows, with estimates suggesting that, in the absence of DFI support, the annual trade finance gap could have exceeded $100 billion during the 2020-2024 period.

“Renewed geopolitical tensions and disruptions to global supply chains and trade flows could reverse post-pandemic progress in narrowing the trade finance gap. For instance, tighter correspondent risk appetite could widen the trade finance gap to $86.6-$102.6 billion by 2027 under a moderate to severe scenario. This is at least 17.7 % above the 2024 level, potentially erasing a decade of gains,” Simpasa cautioned.

The report launch event was attended by policymakers, private-sector leaders, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), Financial Institutions, and trade finance experts from across the continent.

Some highlights of the report:

• The unmet demand for trade finance in Africa ranged from $74 billion to $92 billion in 2024. The estimated gap of $ 74 billion represents 5.4% of the region's total merchandise trade value in 2024.
• African trade remains underserved by commercial banks. Over the five years of the study, commercial banks intermediated an average of 23% of Africa's total trade, down from 40% during 2011-19.
• Between 2020 and 2024, intra-African trade accounted for 34% of total bank-intermediated trade, representing an 89 percent increase above pre-pandemic levels (2011-2019).
• Foreign exchange liquidity shortages have become the primary barrier limiting banks' growth in trade finance. About 36% of banks cited limited foreign exchange liquidity as the primary constraint to their trade finance growth between 2020 and 2024, compared with 18% in the 2015-2019 period.
• The adoption of digital trade finance solutions by banks remains low, primarily due to high implementation costs and inadequate technological infrastructure. Only 28% of the banks surveyed reported having adopted digital tools or platforms for their trade finance operations.

In a short panel discussion following the launch, Didier Acouetey, Senior Advisor to African Development Bank President Sidi Ould Tah for the Private Sector, Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals for the African Union Commission, Admassu Tadesse, Group President and Managing Director, Trade and Development Bank; and Mehdi Tanani, Regional Director for Central Africa, Proparco, discussed the report's findings, noting opportunities and challenges to unlocking sustainable bank-intermediated trade finance in Africa.

Although trade finance remains a major constraint for most of Africa, exciting innovations are gaining ground, such as digitization, guarantees and asset management initiatives to expand the trade finance asset class and related offerings to the market, Tadesse said. “This should be advanced further by new systemic initiatives such as New African Financial Architecture for Development (NAFAD) and related thrusts such as derisking and smart partnerships that should multiply the impact of African capital and unlock more global capital,” he added.

“NAFAD gives us, for the first time, a coherent continental framework to close the trade finance gap — not project by project, but systemically. That is the shift that changes everything for African SMEs," Acouetey noted.

Commissioner Belobe called for eliminating the 'missing middle' in African banking. “SMEs are too large for microfinance, too small for corporate banking, but far too commercially important to be left outside the trade finance system. It is time for commercial banks to treat SME trade finance as a deliberate, core business line, not a residual activity,” he said.

“Africa will not close its trade finance gap by adding constraints, but by building a more resilient, more digital, and more sustainable trade finance ecosystem — one that protects SMEs against global shocks while accelerating the continent’s economic integration,” Tanani said.

The African Development Bank and other DFIs have played a significant role in reducing the trade finance gap in Africa. Development finance institutions facilitated about $32 billion in trade finance annually between 2020 and 2024, accounting for about 3% of Africa's total merchandise trade on average over the same period.

The African Development Bank’s Trade Finance Program was established in 2013, with an inaugural survey conducted in 2014. Since 2014, AfDB has produced 4 periodic surveys, including two country-specific reports on Kenya and Tanzania.

Read the full report here.

26 May 2026: The Board of the African Development Bank Group has approved a $68 million financing package for the Republic of Madagascar to support the second phase of the Financial Management and Economic Resilience Support Programme.

The package, comprising a $27.2 million concessional loan from the African Development Fund and a $40.8 million concessional loan from the Transition Support Facility, brings the total investment under the two-phase programme to $136 million, making it one of the Bank's most significant budget support commitments to the country.

The approval builds on a strong track record. The first phase of the programme achieved significant results for Malagasy households and businesses. These include a modern tax administration system now operational across the country and a national anti-corruption strategy that anchors accountability through 2030.

The second phase will deepen and extend these gains, with reforms in public financial management and private sector competitiveness that together aim to widen Madagascar's fiscal space and attract transformative investment.

"Madagascar has demonstrated the political will and institutional capacity to implement meaningful reforms under difficult circumstances,” said Adam Amoumoun, the African Development Bank's Country Manager for Madagascar. “This programme consolidates those gains and opens the door to a more resilient, inclusive, and transparent economy—one that works for all Malagasy people."

The programme also supports the creation of an independent electricity regulator and a new National Fund for Sustainable Energy, with direct financing for off-grid and rural electrification, bringing light and economic opportunity to areas where nearly 80 per cent of Madagascar's poor live.

A modernised public-private partnership law provides the legal certainty that private investors in clean energy and infrastructure need to commit capital at scale.

Tax revenues are projected to rise from 10.5 per cent to 12 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the end of 2026.

The programme's extension comes as Madagascar's new government, formed in March 2026, has reaffirmed its reform commitments alongside engagement from multiple development partners. The African Development Bank's approval adds financing to this broader effort.

24 May 2026: Every day, many entrepreneurs across rural Zambia face the same challenges. Without access to reliable electricity, they crank up diesel generators to power their business operations. Using these generators increases operating costs and reduces profit margins while negatively impacting the surrounding environment. Fortunately, a new approach powered by solar mini-grids and suitable financing for productive-use equipment is improving businesses for entrepreneurs in rural Zambia.

Take the example of Lincoln Mumba, an entrepreneur from Petauke District in Eastern Province. In 2022, Lincoln bought a diesel-powered hammer mill and dehuller to start his milling business. He would mill maize for farmers for free and then sell the bran by-product to companies in Lusaka that make animal feed.

Last year, when his community was connected to electricity from a solar-powered mini-grid, he replaced his diesel-powered machines with new electric-powered ones with the support of Customised Energy Solutions (CES). With the new equipment, he doubled his production levels, and his earnings increased significantly. “From the extra income I am making, I am able to pay school fees and finance my farming activities,” Lincoln shared.

Lincoln recently acquired a solar-powered water pump from CES that increased his farm production. Today, he generates income from two sources with a combination of clean energy solutions.

Another beneficiary is Jelina Mwaula from Southern Province. She acquired a micro mill and a cold storage deep freezer for her growing agro-processing business. The micro-mill serves local customers who don’t have to travel long distances to mill their maize, while the cold storage unit preserves fish caught in the Kafue Gorge in Southern Province. With the storage, she is able to preserve and sell the fish locally, which increases both her revenues and minimizes losses associated with transportation costs. She acquired her equipment through a lease-to-own model and trained on basic operation and maintenance of the machines.

Through the CES Customized Applications for Rural Economies & Sustainability (CARES) program, the company is implementing a lease-to-own powered Productive Use of Energy (PUE) program to transform rural economies. They are supporting rural entrepreneurs to acquire PUE equipment with the option to pay for it over a 12-24 month period, with exceptions for large-scale irrigation, for which the repayment period is 30 months.

To benefit more entrepreneurs like Lincoln and Jelina, starting in April, CES began conducting PUE roadshows, showcasing over 60 livelihood technologies across 51 operational mini-grid sites in Eastern, Central, and Southern Provinces. The roadshows provide entrepreneurs with a chance to see and experience productive energy-use solutions firsthand.

CES’s work focuses on mini-grid scale up, energy access, and productive use, contributing to broader efforts to expand access and drive economic productivity in Zambia. This aligns with the Zambia Energy Demand Stimulation Incentive (ZEDSI) initiative led by SEforALL, alongside partners including the Global Energy Alliance, the African School of Regulation, and Columbia World Projects, with support from The Rockefeller Foundation.

This initiative is providing performance-based grants to mini-grid developers with the aim of pushing electricity beyond the household and into productive use like agriculture, milling, and commercial activities to drive sustained electricity consumption that improves their operating margins.

"Sustainable mini grids are built on demand, and demand is built on livelihoods. PUE is the catalyst that links clean energy to inclusive development. By enabling rural enterprises from agro-processing to cooling, PUE turns energy investments into engines of local economic growth and financial sustainability. Every productive appliance deployed multiplies community prosperity," said Nitin Akhade, the CES director of the Energy and Productive Economy Platform.

Through the ZEDSI initiative, SEforALL is addressing the most persistent challenge in mini-grid projects by solving the energy demand gap and enabling mini-grids to be profitable while delivering affordable electricity for businesses. The overall goal is to increase future investments in off-grid energy by linking generation and consumption, which is key to minigrids’ sustainability.

ZEDSI has made considerable progress catalyzing PUE adoption since the launch of the initiative in 2024. It has onboarded three private off-grid developers to install solar mini-grids across 43 rural communities and has been actively encouraging people and businesses to adopt PUE equipment and use electricity productively. Across these mini-grid sites, farmers are using milling and grinding machines to process their harvests, small businesses are running cold storage units, and households are charging phones and appliances.

ZEDSI is a catalytic financing facility that provides developers with results-based grants for connecting public institutions and productive uses of energy to new mini-grids. As of June 2025, the Facility awarded $1.1M worth of contracts to three developers representing 43 minigrid sites and an estimated 11,000 connections by 2027,” said Mukabanji Mutanuka, SEforALL’s Zambia Country Coordinator.

Early results show that customers supported under ZEDSI are using nearly eight times more electricity than those who are not. These mini-grid projects are also earning almost seven times more on average, thus increasing economic viability for the developers.

With these numbers expected to increase over time as more people are onboarded, ZEDSI is set for significant growth. As more entrepreneurs invest in PUEs, ZEDSI is demonstrating that businesses, and not just connections, are the best pathway to sustainable rural energy.

Sustainable Energy for All is a partner in the Agri-Energy Coalition, a global alliance of partners working on energy, water, agriculture, nutrition, climate and finance. It was created to unlock the potential of agri-food systems with clean energy.

• Guided by its vision to “make life full of hope, make the world better” , Felicitysolar continues to expand its global impact through innovative and sustainable renewable energy solutions.

7 May 2026: As part of this mission, Felicitysolar recently supported Yobe State University in Nigeria by installing solar-powered street lights, enhancing campus safety while promoting clean and reliable energy use. This initiative reflects how Felicitysolar translates its brand values into meaningful actions that directly benefit communities.

Through this Nigeria solar project, Felicitysolar demonstrates the transformative power of community solar projects. By applying advanced solar lighting technology, the company delivers efficient, durable, and environmentally friendly solutions that reduce dependence on traditional power infrastructure.

More than just a single initiative, this project represents Felicitysolar’s broader commitment to empowering communities worldwide. From Africa to other emerging markets, Felicitysolar leverages its global network and technical expertise to provide solar lighting solutions that improve quality of life and support sustainable development.

Official Website: https://www.felicitysolar.com/

Conclusion:

Felicitysolar’s work at Yobe State University exemplifies how the company transforms its vision—“make life full of hope, make the world better”—into tangible impact. Through sustainable solar lighting solutions, we not only enhance community safety and quality of life but also demonstrate the global potential of renewable energy solutions. Each initiative reinforces our commitment to empowering communities, advancing sustainability, and shaping a brighter future worldwide. By continuing to innovate and act responsibly, Felicitysolar turns its mission into reality, lighting the way for a cleaner, safer, and more hopeful world.

Explore more about our solar solutions and discover how Felicitysolar is lighting the way toward a more sustainable world.

19 April 2026: Moon has announced the launch of a solar home system designed to operate maintenance-free for the first 10 years, featuring a repairable design built for the long term. This innovation is part of a wider initiative: the roll-out of its ESIO™ solution in five new African countries, in collaboration with local operators, NGOs and institutional partners.

A solar system designed to last – and to be operated as infrastructure

In the off-grid solar sector, one thing remains clear: whilst access to energy is improving, ensuring the long-term reliability of the service remains a challenge. Too many systems fail due to a lack of proper maintenance, monitoring or sustainable business models.

This Verasol-certified solar home system has been designed to operate for up to 10 years without maintenance, and repairable as an infrastructure. The aim is not only to extend the equipment’s lifespan, but also to ensure a reliable energy supply over time, even in the most remote areas.

Prepaid, connected and communicative, the system enables simplified on-site service management, even with poor or no mobile network coverage. It follows a clear approach: a solar home system is not just a product to be distributed, but as a building block of decentralized energy infrastructure.

From equipment to service: an integrated approach with ESIO™

This solar system forms part of Moon ESIO™, a broader solution designed to address the operational challenges facing the off-grid sector: difficulties in monitoring installations, a lack of reliable data, high costs associated with field operations, and the fragility of after-sales service.

ESIO™ combines:

• Moon Energy System™, the sustainable and repairable solar system,
• Moon IO™, a software platform for managing equipment, payments, field teams and customer support,
• Moon Training Services, a training program designed to build the capacity of local operators.

This solution aims to enable stakeholders in the sector — operators, NGOs and public agencies — to roll out domestic solar systems as a long-term service, with a high level of traceability and performance. This approach is designed to be integrated into performance-based financing mechanisms and national strategies for universal access to energy. It is also part of the initiative led by REAL Program Catalyst , of which Moon is a founding member, which aims to structure and accelerate the roll-out Energy-as-a-Service models as a cornerstone of public policies on energy access.

An innovation tailored to the sector’s needs

As access to energy improves, the remaining populations are often the hardest to reach: remote areas, low ability to pay, and significant logistical challenges. In this context, traditional models — cash sales or hire purchase — are showing their limitations. The SHS-as-a-Service model, which is based on paying for a service rather than a product, appears to be a suitable alternative for hardest-to-reach.

By launching a system designed to require no maintenance for the first 10 years, combined with a control software layer, Moon aims to address a key challenge facing the sector: ensuring long-term access to essential energy.

Five new countries, one ambition

Following on from Malawi, Sierra Leone and Madagascar, Moon is supporting the roll-out of SHS as-a-Service in five new countries this year: Benin, Burundi, Chad, Mozambique and Niger.

In collaboration with our local partner operators, these projects form part of programs supported by the World Bank, EnDev and public electrification agencies, aimed at reaching rural communities without electricity.

For every project, our aim remains the same: to enable local operators, NGOs and public agencies to roll out and operate essential energy access services with transparency, traceability and cost control.

Paving the way for a new generation of decentralized energy infrastructure

With this two-fold announcement — a repairable system designed to operate maintenance-free for the first 10 years and a rollout into new markets — Moon is confirming a clear strategic direction. The challenge is no longer to provide equipment, but to establish distributed energy services that can be integrated into public policy and complement other electrification solutions, such as grid extension or mini-grids.

With this in mind, solar home systems is evolving: it is gradually shifting from an individual product to an infrastructure, managed and operated on a long-term basis.

• Applications for the 8th edition of the Access to Energy Fund, which supports renewable energy projects in remote and underserved rural communities, are now open and will run until 5 May. Energy inclusion and a just transition are the key objectives of this initiative.

8 April 2026: What if access to clean energy could change the future of an entire community? Driven by this ambition, EDP is today opening applications for the 8th edition of the A2E (Access to Energy) Fund, aimed at supporting renewable energy-based projects in remote and underserved rural communities across five countries: Brazil, Mozambique, Kenya, Malawi and Nigeria.

With a total allocation of €1 million, this new edition of EDP’s social responsibility fund is seeking innovative projects to be developed in these five countries in Latin America and Africa, in areas considered priorities for EDP’s social action: education, health, water, community and business. Financial support per project may range from €50,000 to €150,000, covering up to 75% of total project costs for non-profit organisations and up to 50% for for-profit entities, from any country, provided the projects are implemented in the selected geographies. The selected projects will be announced in the last quarter of 2026.

Over the past seven editions, the A2E Fund has played a key role in promoting access to energy in remote and underserved rural communities, financing renewable energy solutions with social, environmental and economic impact in the territories where they are implemented. Since its launch, the fund has received more than 1,100 applications and supported 56 projects, with a total investment of €5.5 million, directly benefiting 855,000 people and impacting more than 9 million indirect beneficiaries across seven African countries and one country in Latin America.

Brazil was, in fact, the most recent country to join this list, having participated for the first time in the previous edition and being one of the geographies with a project selected by the fund in 2025. Planned for the Amazon region, the project submitted by Instituto Puxirum aims to implement solar energy solutions to ensure access to drinking water in local communities through renewable energy-powered pumping systems.

Among the many initiatives already supported by the A2E Fund are projects in Mozambique, such as rural health centres equipped with photovoltaic systems and water purification solutions, ensuring reliable energy for essential medical care. In Kenya, decentralised solar solutions have provided electricity and access to water to vulnerable communities, including refugee camps, demonstrating how EDP’s social investment generates positive social and environmental impact on the ground.

Created in 2018, the A2E Fund is part of the A2E – Access to Energy Programme, an EDP initiative designed to promote energy inclusion among communities facing greater vulnerability. Over this period, the programme has supported projects across different geographies and now marks 15 years of activity, alongside EDP’s 50th anniversary.

Through the A2E Fund, EDP continues to strengthen its commitment to promoting energy inclusion by financing innovative and sustainable projects that deliver clean, safe and affordable energy to communities facing exclusion. The initiative contributes to a just energy transition, with a direct impact on improving quality of life and creating local economic opportunities and is aligned with EDP’s global strategy to promote sustainable development, leaving no one behind.

Applications must be submitted via the form available on the programme’s website by 5 may.

To apply for the A2E Fund – 8th edition (2026):

Deadline: 5 May 2026

Where: Programme website on EDP YES

Financial support: between €50,000 and €150,000 (covering up to 75% of total costs for non-profit organisations and up to 50% for for-profit entities)

Eligible countries for project implementation: Brazil, Mozambique, Kenya, Malawi and Nigeria

• Innovative Peace Renewable Energy Certificate (P-REC) Aggregation facility to unlock new hard-currency revenue for mini-grids, targeting 856,000 people across 14 frontier countries.

25 March 2026: The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors has approved a $5.65 million reimbursable grant from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) to pilot the Peace Renewable Energy Certificate (P-REC) Aggregation Facility, a pioneering initiative that will, for the first time, deploy renewable energy certificates as a direct funding instrument for a portfolio of mini-grids across Africa’s most fragile and energy-poor countries.

Co-financed with the Nordic Development Fund, which committed an equivalent of $5.65 million, the $11.3 million facility will be managed by Camco Clean Energy, a climate and impact fund manager, and Energy Peace Partners, a US-registered non-profit that developed the Peace Renewable Energy Certificate label. The certificates come exclusively from small-scale mini-grid projects in conflict-affected and energy-poor communities, and are voluntarily purchased by multinationals looking to put their corporate sustainability spending where it drives the greatest social and environmental impact.

The facility will enter into long-term purchase agreements with qualifying mini-grid developers across 14 frontier countries—Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. It will provide developers with upfront cash payments in exchange for the rights to the certificates produced by the project. The facility will subsequently sell those certificates to global corporate buyers, channelling hard currency back to developers in markets where commercial financing is very limited.

Some 856,000 people across these 14 countries are expected to gain first-time access to reliable electricity as a result, roughly half of them women, through approximately 240,000 new connections and 71 megawatts of new renewable energy capacity.

The project is fully aligned with Mission 300, the joint African Development Bank and World Bank initiative to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. NDF is contributing to the ambitious energy access targets of Mission 300 through their sizable renewable energy portfolio and as a member of the Development Partner Coordination Group.

“Lack of access to capital for rural electrification continues to be a major hurdle for universal energy access in the African continent, particularly in countries experiencing conflicts and fragility. I am proud that SEFA is backing this innovative, first-of-a-kind facility testing a new climate finance product capable of unlocking new sources of commercial funding for private sector led mini-grids. This is the kind of market-making needed to advance Mission 300 objectives.” João Duarte Cunha, Manager, Renewable Energy Funds Division and Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa, African Development Bank Group.

“Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa facing fragile and conflict-affected situations urgently need support and access to clean, reliable energy solutions. At NDF, we are proud to contribute to the Innovative Peace Renewable Energy Certificate (P-REC) Aggregation Facility, which helps bring small-scale, off-grid renewable energy to communities with no, limited or disrupted energy access. By supporting this initiative, we also strengthen the role of Nordic climate leadership—working in partnership, through innovation and responsibility, to advance sustainable energy solutions where they are needed most.” Satu Santala, Managing Director, Nordic Development Fund (NDF).

“PAF will provide additional low-cost, non-dilutive capital to energy access projects in fragile states. In doing so, it will provide more communities with access to the benefits of clean energy, boosting jobs, opportunities, and living standards. Camco is pleased to be working with EPP, SEFA and NDF on this important initiative.” Geoff Sinclair, CEO, Camco.

“The majority of people on the continent without access to electricity live in fragile and conflict-affected countries where renewable energy projects can have outsize impacts – improving health, education, safety and security outcomes. The P-REC Aggregation Facility, based on EPP’s Peace-REC label, can accelerate that transition by converting corporate climate ambition into upfront capital for renewable energy developers who would otherwise struggle to close their projects.” Sherwin Das, Managing Director, Energy Peace Partners.

###

About SEFA: SEFA is a multi-donor Special Fund that provides catalytic finance to unlock private sector investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. SEFA offers technical assistance and concessional finance instruments to remove market barriers, build a more robust pipeline of projects and improve the risk-return profile of individual investments. The Fund’s overarching goal is to contribute to universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy services for all in Africa, in line with Mission 300.

About NDF: The Nordic Development Fund (NDF) is the joint Nordic international finance institution of the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. NDF focuses on the nexus between climate change and development in lower-income countries and countries in fragile situations. Since the introduction of the climate mandate in 2009, NDF has built a track record of adding value by financing climate mitigation and adaptation projects in close interaction with its extensive network of strategic partners.

About Camco: Camco is a climate and impact fund manager. With over 30 years’ experience in sustainable finance and on-the-ground value generation, Camco has supported over 200 projects in 29 countries. The company manages multiple investment platforms aimed at financing innovative solutions to address climate change and deliver positive impact in emerging markets, including the Renewable Energy Performance Platform (REPP), REPP 2, Spark Energy Services and TIDES, and is an Accredited Entity of the Green Climate Fund.

About Energy Peace Partners: Energy Peace Partners (EPP) leverages climate and finance solutions to promote peace in the world’s most fragile regions. Our climate-sensitive approach expands the existing toolkit for peace and development by extending the renewable energy revolution to some of the planet’s most vulnerable populations. We address the intersection of energy poverty, conflict risk and climate vulnerability to demonstrate the peace dividends of clean energy.