21 January 2026: JIVO Energy has successfully completed the installation of Solar PV + BESS hybrid systems at 39 health facilities in Liberia.

Financed by the World Bank and having the Rural and Renewable Energy Agency as implementing agency, the project installation period lasted for 18 months and is having 2 years of Operations & Maintenance services ahead.

With systems capacities ranging from 2kWp/15kWh to 18kWp/70kWp the project is providing self sufficiency to the health facilities power demand, which were operating off-grid and relying on generators before JIVO Energy’s intervention.

The remoteness of some locations represented a challenge for the delivery of the equipment and the installation, but at same time increased the positive impact of the project by providing a reliable ecofriendly source of power.

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About JIVO ENERGY: JIVO Energy (formerly RIC Energy Africa) has been engaged in renewable energy business in Africa & Asia since 2018 focused on Project Development, EPC, O&M, and investing in renewable energy projects, including provision of technical services related to renewable energy to several clients.

In addition, JIVO Energy provides EPC solutions and technical services related to renewable energy to project developers and investors in Europe.

JIVO Energy currently operates in 15+ countries in Africa across East, West, and Southern Africa, with offices & teams in India, Mauritius, UAE, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Cape Verde.

JIVO Energy is an affiliate of RIC Energy Group operating in Asia, Africa and Europe (formerly known as RIC Energy Africa, and rebranded as JIVO Energy in 2025)

JIVO Energy has now successfully implemented projects in Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Malawi, Cape Verde, Sao Tome, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Liberia and Zambia.

As of today, JIVO Energy has constructed (or has under construction) more than 80MWp of Solar PV and more than 50MWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), with another 200MWp+ of Solar PV and 50MWh+ of Battery Energy Storage Systems under development across 12 countries in Africa.

22 January 2026: Izili Group, a leading Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) off-grid energy and digital social business, backed by BioLite, its majority shareholder since May 2025, announces the acquisition of Qotto, strengthening its footprint across Africa. With this transaction, Izili will operate in six countries, reinforcing its ambition to scale access to sustainable energy solutions across the continent.

A new step in Izili’s growth journey

This acquisition marks a key step in Izili’s expansion in West Africa and strengthens its position as a major player in off-grid energy access. Qotto has built a strong presence in Benin and Burkina Faso, delivering innovative solar solutions to households and entrepreneurs underserved by traditional energy infrastructure.

By welcoming Qotto into the Group, Izili further reinforces its commitment to making clean, reliable and affordable energy accessible, particularly in off-grid and rural communities.

Financing to support long-term development

In parallel with the acquisition, Izili has secured a fi nancing agreement with the Off-Grid Energy Access Fund (OGEF), an impact investment fund dedicated to expanding access to off-grid electricity in Africa. The fi nancing takes the form of $5 million worth of convertible bonds, to support Izili’s growth strategy. This transaction strengthens the Group’s fi nancial structure, providing additional fl exibility to support the long-term and sustainable development of its off-grid energy activities, with the ambition to distribute more than 170,000 solar solutions and over 120,000 digital products by 2028.

Accelerating access to energy across Africa

The acquisition of Qotto opens a new chapter for Izili Group as it continues to scale its impact across Africa. Through the combination of local expertise, robust distribution networks and innovative fi nancing models, the Group intends to extend its services to additional communities and promote inclusive and sustainable economic development.

“The acquisition of Qotto marks an important milestone in Izili’s journey, not only for our expansion in West Africa, but above all for the people it brings together. We are truly proud and excited to welcome the Qotto teams into the Izili Group. Together, we share the same commitment to impact and the same belief that access to clean energy can transform lives. By joining forces, we will be able to go further, reach more communities, and build a stronger future for the off-grid energy sector, ” said Kolawole Osinowo, CEO of Izili Group.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Qotto to join forces with Izili and BioLite to build a leading player in rural electrifi cation across Sub-Saharan Africa. This merger is the fi rst concrete step of a strategy to create a strong impact in renewable energy access. It empowers our teams to continue – and amplify – our mission: bringing sustainable electricity to those who need it most. We are immensely proud of what this human adventure achieved so far, and we are even more excited about what lies ahead. Picture this: combine committed, competent and passionate teams to provide millions of households with access to electricity, and future generations inheriting a fairer world. That is our mission. And today, we have the means to achieve it on an unprecedented scale. Let’s make it happen!” said Jean Baptiste Lenoir, Co-founder of Qotto.

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About Izili: Formerly Baobab+, Izili is a purpose-driven last-mile distributor of solar energy systems and digital tools in Africa. Since 2015, we have empowered over 2.5 million people through accessible fi nancing and hands-on support, ensuring that clean energy and digital solutions reach even the most remote communities.

About Qotto: Qotto is an innovative and digital-ready essential services provider to rural and underserved consumers in West Africa. Qotto’s vision is that decentralized energy and digital infrastructure will empower African populations and unlock development opportunities. Operating in Benin and Burkina Faso, Qotto has equipped more than 150.000 people with affordable solar solutions, empowering families and entrepreneurs.

• New analysis highlighted in the plan shows strong government demand for minigrids — connecting more than 115 million people — under the Mission 300 initiative, but rapid and decisive action is required by all stakeholders between 2026 and 2028.

26 January 2026: Today, leading minigrid company CEOs operating across Africa issued a 17-step action plan for funders, governments and industry to urgently align ambition with the scale, speed, and structure of capital mobilisation and regulatory reform required to meet Africa’s electrification targets. These companies have endorsed a Mission 300 Industry Position Paper setting out 17 priority actions to ensure minigrids can catalyze electrification at the scale envisioned.

Mission 300, led by the World Bank and the African Development Bank, seeks to connect 300 million people to electricity by 2030. So far, the banks have signed Energy Compacts with 29 African governments. An analysis of the Compacts, released with the position paper for the first time, demonstrates a strong desire by governments for the minigrid industry to play a central role. Governments expect to serve over 115 million people, equivalent to 23 million connections, by the end of the decade.

Core industry messages

Mission 300 is achievable, but only with a step change in delivery.

Delivering 23 million minigrid connections in less than five years implies unprecedented scale and coordination. The sector is ready to deliver, but success depends on immediate action across capital deployment, regulation and institutional execution.

Minigrid companies must have access to both corporate equity and local currency debt to scale.

Accelerating deployment will require ensuring that a combination of corporate equity and appropriately structured local currency debt is available to enable minigrid companies to scale operations within existing markets and expand into new countries. Achieving Mission 300 will require $28–46 billion in total capital, including over $10 billion in equity by 2028.

Mission 300 funders must publish a clear, time-bound capital plan.

It is important that Mission 300 clearly state how much concessional and risk capital will be deployed, how this capital will mobilise private equity at scale, and how approval and deployment timelines will be accelerated to reflect the urgency of the target. Transparent capital mobilisation plans and measurable delivery milestones should form part of Mission 300 performance tracking.

Policy, regulatory and performance standardisation is essential for speed and scale.

Governments and funders must support greater standardisation of policy frameworks, technical standards and industry Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to reduce transaction costs, streamline approvals and build investor confidence across markets.

Minigrids must be allowed to earn appropriate commercial returns.

Governments are urged to enable cost-reflective tariffs, remove import duties and taxes that add over 7% to equipment costs, and allow deployment in commercially viable peri-urban, interconnected and standalone urban settings. Without these conditions, private capital cannot scale at Mission 300 speed.

Mission 300 KPIs must reflect economic impact, not household connections alone.

Perhaps most importantly, Mission 300 should count connections to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and social institutions, not only households as currently stipulated. Including productive and institutional demand in KPIs will enable higher utilisation, stronger economics and more sustainable minigrid systems.

Endorsements

The companies endorsing the paper collectively operate 392 active minigrid sites, have invested over $300 million, and hold a development pipeline exceeding 1 GW, representing a capital requirement of up to $8.2 billion. The sector states that it is ready to deliver, provided the enabling environment moves at the pace Mission 300 demands.

Commenting on the paper, AMDA CEO, Olamide Niyi-Afuye, said:

“Mission 300 has set an ambition that meaningfully confronts the scale and urgency of Africa’s electrification challenge. This paper is the industry’s response. It reflects a rare alignment among minigrid CEOs who are already delivering on the ground and ready to scale. The message is clear: the sector is ready. What is now needed is capital mobilisation with a clear, time-bound plan, and regulatory and institutional systems that move at the same speed as the ambition.”

Manoj Sinha, CEO & Founder of Husk Power, said:

“M300 has enabled more predictable policies, reduced market risk and unlocked more capital. As a result, Husk Power has increased its ambition to 1GW of distributed energy projects in Africa by 2030. However, it is well known that high income, low energy countries do not exist. Governments have spoken on the need for minigrids to power economic growth beyond households. Now a step change in action is needed.”

CEO & Co-Founder of ANKA, Camille André-Bataille, said:

“Mission 300 is not constrained by technology or demand, but by how capital is structured and deployed. Project-level financing remains essential to build minigrid infrastructure, but scaling delivery at the pace M300 requires will depend on increased corporate equity, alongside enabling national frameworks, to strengthen companies’ capacity to grow, execute, and manage portfolios efficiently. No strong companies means no successful projects. This Position Paper brings together practical insights from minigrid companies active across Africa and provides concrete recommendations to help align capital, regulation, and institutional frameworks with the realities of large-scale delivery. It is vital that we all move forward in the same direction.”

Olu Ajala, CEO of Ashipa Electric, added:

“Mission 300 is no longer a question of ambition. It is a test of execution. Governments have made clear their expectation that minigrids will serve over 115 million people by 2030, and companies like ours are already delivering at scale. What will determine success now is whether capital, regulation, and institutional processes move fast enough to match that demand. With access to appropriately structured equity and local-currency debt, cost-reflective tariffs, and standardized performance frameworks, the minigrid sector can deliver reliable power at Mission 300 speed.”

Kenneth Gitonga, Market Development Facility Manager at Camco, said:

“Camco has been committed to the minigrid sector for over a decade, and we’ve seen how it can deliver clean energy and inclusive economic growth. The 17‑Step Action Plan offers the clarity needed to turn early ambition into scalable, bankable projects. With the right enabling conditions, we are ready to deploy catalytic capital and support developers to help Mission 300 deliver sustainable impact for households, SMEs, and communities.”

According to the World Bank, over 600 million people in Africa still lack access to electricity. With less than five years to the 2030 deadline, industry leaders warn that incremental approaches will fall short.

The Position Paper concludes with a clear message: achieving 300 million new connections has massive implications for capital flows, regulatory alignment, and institutional delivery. The minigrid industry stands ready to play a central role, but success will depend on funders and governments matching ambition with execution.

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About AMDA: Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA) is the pan African industry association representing private sector minigrid developers and allied partners, working to make Africa’s minigrid market investable, scalable, and central to universal energy access.

As the unified voice of the sector, AMDA advances the policy, regulatory, and financial conditions for sustainable growth, leveraging sector intelligence, targeted advocacy, capital facilitation, and high impact convening to accelerate scale and position minigrids at the heart of Africa’s electricity and development goals.

28 January 2026: A new report by ZE-Gen, launched on the International Day of Clean Energy, shows customer-centred solutions are critical to driving Nigeria’s clean energy transition. Currently more than 86 million people lack electricity access in Nigeria – the largest national electricity access deficit in the world.

‘Understanding Nigeria’s Fossil Fuel Generator Challenge’ marks the first public release of detailed customer-level data on fossil fuel generator use in Nigeria, where an estimated 41 million small businesses and 17 million households use petrol and diesel generators, contributing to an estimated $8 billion spent each year on fuel for highly polluting and expensive power.

The first-of-its-kind report by ZE-Gen combines 12 months of smart meter data collected by the Access to Energy Institute (A2EI) with in-depth market analysis by Open Capital across households, MSMEs, schools, healthcare facilities, and hotels in Nigeria.

It highlights that despite near-universal interest in switching from fossil fuel generators to modern solar generators, high upfront costs and inflexible financing remain the biggest barriers to change.

While historically, fossil fuel generators have dominated the market due to their availability, low upfront cost, and perceived reliability, today modern high-quality solar-powered generators remove the need for fuel entirely, offering a cleaner, quieter, and are more economical in the long-term in resource-constrained settings.

The report shows that a standard solar generator with a 2.5kW maximum output, combined with 1kW of solar panels and a 2kWh battery, could potentially meet up to 85% of the energy requirements of the customers surveyed. To unlock this potential, the report calls for data-driven product design, flexible financing models, and targeted awareness campaigns to ensure clean energy solutions meet real-world needs and budgets.

Key stakeholder recommendations include:

• Product Developers & Distributors – Collaboratively design products using real smart meter data insights to create modular, scalable solar gensets tailored to Nigerian load profiles.
• Investors & Lenders – Increase market availability of flexible customer financing models and use of carbon credits to lower upfront costs and expand inventory procurement services to reduce capital pressure
• Donor & Development Partners – Build local capacity and customer awareness by training technicians, empowering entrepreneurs and running awareness campaigns to drive demand and trust.
• Policy Makers – Expand and strengthen policy and regulatory support and incentives that enforce quality standards, streamline approvals, and consider mechanisms to expand local installation and maintenance labour force.

In addition, the report shows the benefit of leveraging data platforms for transparency, including using open-source tools like ZE-Gen’s PROSPECT platform to share insights and guide investment decisions and the importance of cross-industry collaboration and partnerships between solar generator suppliers and smart meter installers to share customer insights and drive product innovation.

By aligning technology with how customers actually use energy and what they can afford, Nigeria can accelerate the shift away from fossil fuel generators and deliver more affordable and reliable power to millions of households and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Based on the data analysed, customer-driven solutions could:

• Reduce energy costs for millions of households and MSMEs.
• Cut emissions by displacing 500,000 litres of diesel annually, avoiding thousands of tonnes of CO₂e.
• Unlock hundreds of millions in investment for solar generators.
• Improve public health and prevent deaths from toxic fumes by replacing noisy, polluting fossil fuel generators with cleaner alternatives.

Lily Beadle, Programme Director, ZE-Gen said: “Technology alone won’t solve Nigeria’s energy challenge – innovation must be combined with understanding the customer. Real-world data tells us what people need, how they use energy, and what they can afford. This report provides the market with a completely new understanding of customer use and insight is the foundation for designing solutions that work at scale.”

The includes market analysis by Open Capital and smart meter user data by A2EI.

Thomas Duveau, Chief Strategy Officer, Access to Energy Institute, said: “Transparent access to verified data helps us to stop guessing. This report specifically analyses how fossil fuel generators can be replaced by solar solutions. It utilizes our data platform Prospect’s long-term data aggregation capabilities to provide solar developers, distributors, and investors with valuable insights to the Nigerian market. Further, it equips them with the tools to conduct their own analyses and enhance customer-centric solar generator design – accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to affordable, efficient solar alternatives. The methodology we developed jointly with Carbon Trust can be replicated in other countries.”

Duda Slawek, Associate Partner and Head of Clean Energy, Open Capital, said: “Nigeria’s generator market presents one of the largest opportunities globally to scale clean alternatives, but only if solutions are designed around real customer behaviour and market constraints. By combining smart-meter data with detailed market and policy analysis, this study moves the conversation from aspiration to execution, offering a clearer roadmap for developers, investors, and policymakers to channel capital into solar generator solutions that are commercially viable, appropriately sized, and affordable at scale.”

Globally, around 1.5 billion people live with weak, unreliable, or no access to electricity. More than 80 million fossil fuel generators are currently in use, contributing to pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, noise and health risks, while imposing unpredictable fuel costs. In contrast, modern solar-powered generators offer cleaner, quieter, and more cost-effective alternatives.

Why Customer Insights Matter

More than 86 million Nigerians lack electricity access, making Nigeria the largest national electricity access deficit globally.

41 million MSMEs and 17 million households rely on generators, spending $8 billion annually on fuel.

100% of surveyed customers expressed interest in clean energy alternatives, and 99% agreed that accessible financing is essential.

Smart meter data shows typical generator use is 2–4 hours per day, with peak demand in evenings for households and daytime for MSMEs—critical for sizing solar systems.

Smart meter data can identify the differences and similarities between different customer categories to create better customer profiles.

Full report: The report ‘Understanding Nigeria’s Fossil Fuel Generator Challenge’ launched on 26 January 2026 to coincide with International Clean Energy Day.

• ZE-Gen summary report
• A2EI smart meter report
• Link to public Prospect dashboard

11 February 2026: In Kenya’s Olchoro Oirouwa Conservancy, Maasai communities live close to nature and far from the electric grid. Daily energy needs have historically been met by burning charcoal, wood, and kerosene, which can be harmful to human health and to the environment. That is beginning to change through a community-led initiative supported by the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF). The effort introduces solar-powered cooking, as well as household lighting, device charging, and new clean water access points.

The United Nations identifies clean cooking as both a climate and a development priority, with approximately 2.1 billion people lacking access to safe, affordable, and low-carbon cooking solutions. The consequences are significant. Indoor air pollution from burning traditional fuels such as wood is responsible for an estimated 3.2 million premature deaths per year. Collecting these fuels can be time consuming and expensive, and in the Olchoro Oirouwa Conservancy, comes with added challenges.

“In our area, it’s so risky, seeing as there are animals around us. It’s dangerous to go looking for firewood,” says Ann Karia, 15.

Karia describes close encounters with wild elephants and buffaloes just outside her village of Kileleoni. Kileleoni is situated within the conservancy and is part of the greater Maasai Mara—a region famed for its megafauna.

Through an initial pilot project, Karia’s household is one of seven to receive a solar-electric cookstove, also known as an e-cooker, which uses sunlight to power cooking without fuel or open flames. The pilot also supplied three cookstoves to the ranger station at a local rhino sanctuary.

“It helps us by conserving the environment and saving time,” says James Kipera, 23.

Kipera works as a chef at the rhino sanctuary. The sanctuary provides habitat for injured rhinos and is an important employer for local Maasai people.

In addition to cooking food, the stoves come equipped with three solar-powered lamps to enable nighttime lighting and two charging ports for phones and other devices. For Karia, Kipera, and other pilot participants, this is their first taste of electricity.

The pilot is designed to assess how well the cookstoves meet local cooking and energy needs. The results of the pilot will inform the wider deployment of clean cooking solutions in the Olchoro Oirouwa Conservancy.

The cookstove initiative is one part of a phased plan to implement additional solar infrastructure in the conservancy. Three solar-powered water systems are currently being constructed, which will provide clean water to community members, their livestock, and the rhinos at the sanctuary. Climate change has intensified local water scarcity. The systems will provide relief, improve resilience, and further reduce the need to trek into dangerous wildlife zones.

A Community-Based Organization has been established to facilitate local engagement and set priorities for the expansion of solar power. Per conservancy rules, all infrastructure needs to be designed thoughtfully, with the landscape and wildlife in mind.

“Any infrastructure in the Maasai Mara has to work for both people and the surrounding ecosystem,” says Robert Freling, SELF’s executive director. “Through smart technology, careful design, and deep partnership, we can meet pressing human needs without compromising conservation goals.”

13 February 2026: Chamwino District Hospital has been a lifeline for its community since it opened its doors in 2022. But from the beginning, one persistent challenge threatened its ability to deliver quality healthcare: water scarcity.

With a high influx of patients every day, the hospital struggled to maintain sanitation, provide clean water for patients and staff, and sustain a green environment around the facility.

Every day brought a reminder that access to water is more than a convenience; it is a lifeline.

Through the Kijanisha Afya Programme, this challenge has found a solution.

Funded by the Embassy of Ireland in Tanzania, Kijanisha Afya is a holistic initiative that focuses on strengthening health systems, improving access to essential services, and promoting environmental sustainability.

The programme emphasizes innovative, community centered interventions, ensuring that hospitals, clinics, and surrounding communities are equipped to deliver quality care while protecting the environment.

In Chamwino, Elico Foundation led a critical intervention by drilling a borehole to supply a reliable source of water to the hospital.

To maximize efficiency, the team also installed a solar-powered pump capable of delivering 40,000 liters in just eight hours, along with a 10,000-liter storage tank to store water for continuous use.

“This project has been transformative for us,” said Michael Surube Jipande, Medical Officer in Charge at Chamwino District Hospital. “Since we started operations in 2022, we faced continuous water shortages due to the high number of patients.

Today, thanks to the Kijanisha Afya Programme, that challenge has been addressed. The hospital can now maintain sanitation standards, serve patients better, and even contribute to environmental greening.”

The impact extends beyond basic hospital operations. The water from the borehole is not only used for sanitation and daily hospital needs but also supports tree planting initiatives, helping to create a greener, healthier environment for patients, staff, and the surrounding community.

Elico Foundation’s intervention demonstrates the Kijanisha Afya Programme’s commitment to sustainable, multi-dimensional solutions.

By combining renewable energy, water management, and environmental action, the programme ensures that healthcare facilities like Chamwino District Hospital can operate efficiently without compromising the planet.

• 77% of customers use smartphones or digital loans to generate income, while Nigeria builds M-KOPA’s strongest agent network across all markets.

26 February 2026: M-KOPA Nigeria has released its first Impact Report, announcing over ₦230 billion in credit unlocked for over 1 million customers, becoming M-KOPA’s fastest-growing market and fastest to reach this milestone. The report highlights the company’s contribution to income generation, digital inclusion and economic opportunity for Every Day Earners across the country.

Since 2019, M-KOPA Nigeria has been working to dismantle barriers to financial inclusion by providing flexible smartphone financing and digital financial tools that align with how people in the informal economy earn and manage their money.

Impact Highlights

• 77% of customers use smartphones or digital loans to generate income
• 75% report earning more since accessing M-KOPA
• 99% of agents report increased earnings
• 81% of long-term customers report improved household expenses

The inaugural Nigeria Impact Report demonstrates strong customer outcomes across income generation, financial inclusion, and economic empowerment. M-KOPA has enabled 290,000 first-time smartphone users, while 56% of agents accessed their first income opportunity through the platform.

Babajide Duroshola, General Manager, M-KOPA Nigeria, said: “Nigeria represents extraordinary potential, and we’re proud that it has become M-KOPA’s fastest-growing market. Our Impact Report shows that when Every Day Earners gain access to the right digital and financial tools, they use them to create stability and long-term progress for their families. This is about access that unlocks opportunity and sustained prosperity.”

Digital Access Powering Progress

The rapid growth is translating into tangible outcomes. 81% of long-term customers report improvements in their household expenses, demonstrating how sustained access to digital tools supports financial stability over time.

Customer Story: From Rice Seller to Digital Entrepreneur

Suliyat, a rice seller, exemplifies this transformation.

“When I found out the M-KOPA deposit was just NGN 40,000, I paid immediately. With the money I had been saving, I bought more rice for my business. Now, I can pay the kids’ school fees and grow my business. With my smartphone, I keep in contact with suppliers, manage my salesgirls, and even post TikTok videos of my food.”

Suliyat’s experience reflects a broader pattern across M-KOPA’s customer base, where smartphones serve as critical business tools rather than luxury items.

Building Nigeria’s Strongest Agent Network

Nigeria leads all M-KOPA markets in agent network performance, with 11,000 active Direct Sales Agents and turnover at just 0.1%. 99% of agents report earning more through M-KOPA, while 56% accessed their first income opportunity through the platform.

Agent Story: Empowerment Through Opportunity

Adewunmi’s journey exemplifies the transformative career pathways M-KOPA creates. Shortly after giving birth to her son in 2021, her former manager told her about an opportunity to become an M-KOPA agent. She embraced the role and, through her strong performance, was later promoted to Sales Lead, where she now manages 20 sales agents.

“Working with M-KOPA has truly empowered me. I can now manage daily expenses, handle emergencies, invest in my future, take care of my family, and pay my child’s school fees. I’ve learned how to attend to and communicate better with customers and how to be more patient, even though I used to be very impatient. I’ve also learned how to handle different types of people professionally. In addition, my sales and negotiation skills have improved, I manage my time more effectively, and I’ve gained a lot more confidence.”

Closing the Gender Gap Through Inclusion

M-KOPA Nigeria is making measurable progress in closing the gender gap. Women’s customer participation increased from 29% in 2024 to 33% in 2025, while women now represent 53% of active sales agents, a 42% increase. This focus on women’s inclusion is delivering results: 52% of women customers accessed their first formal loan through M-KOPA, highlighting the platform’s critical role in expanding financial access for women at scale.

Creating Local Market Impact

M-KOPA Nigeria delivers tangible local impact through:

Employment & Opportunity

• 11,000 active Direct Sales Agents nationwide
• Lowest agent turnover rate (0.1%) across all M-KOPA markets
• 56% of agents accessed their first income opportunity through M-KOPA

Strategic Partnerships

• Partnerships with MTN, Samsung, and HMD are embedding value into customers’ daily lives
• Expanding access to smartphones and digital financial services nationwide

Looking Ahead

As M-KOPA Nigeria continues to expand, the focus remains on ensuring more Every Day Earners gain access to the digital and financial tools they need to build resilient, prosperous futures in Nigeria’s rapidly digitising economy.

5 March 2026: As part of Mission 300 Day during the 2026 Africa Energy Indaba in Cape Town, South Africa, The Rockefeller Foundation announced an additional US$10 million in support of Mission 300, the World Bank Group and African Development Bank’s ambitious initiative to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. With this funding, The Rockefeller Foundation is collaborating with the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (‘Global Energy Alliance’) to fast-track electrification efforts in at least 15 African countries by providing technical assistance to National Energy Compact Delivery and Monitoring Units (CDMUs), with support already underway in Malawi and Liberia. In addition, The Rockefeller Foundation specified that the Mission 300 Accelerator’s support is helping improve CDMU coordination, monitoring, reporting, and implementation capacity in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Senegal, using previously announced funding with its public charity, RF Catalytic Capital (RFCC).

“African governments are choosing to transform their energy sectors by committing to National Energy Compacts, driving forward ambitious reforms, and investing in African-led solutions to connect hundreds of millions of people to electricity. These new connections will reduce reliance on costly and dangerous alternatives, helping Africans build businesses and improve agricultural yields, while fueling job creation, education, healthcare, and hope,” said William Asiko, Senior Vice President and Head of Africa at The Rockefeller Foundation.

Today, more than 730 million people still lack access to basic electricity, with an estimated 600 million living in Africa. This shortage hinders healthcare, education, digital inclusion, women and children empowerment, the creation of local jobs, building economic opportunity, and more. According to the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, lack of access to electricity is the single greatest predictor of extreme poverty.

Launched by the World Bank and African Development Bank to combat energy poverty and unlock opportunity across Africa, Mission 300 is an ambitious joint initiative to provide electricity to 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. With support from The Rockefeller Foundation, Global Energy Alliance, and Sustainable Energy for All, this innovative collaboration uses both grid extension and off-grid, decentralized renewable energy solutions to reach rural and underserved populations. To date, Mission 300 has connected approximately 44 million people to electricity.

Investing in Mission 300 CDMUs

Since the very first National Energy Compacts were announced during the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in January 2025, dozens of African countries have presented their compacts. These government-owned compacts go far beyond connections, committing governments to concrete reforms and investments that make large-scale electrification feasible and bankable. The compacts are all about creating the conditions for economic transformation that will drive industrial growth, and each accompanying CDMU is responsible for coordinating effective implementation.

In addition, The Rockefeller Foundation confirmed that the Mission 300 Accelerator is actively providing support to CDMUs in Nigeria, along with Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, the latter two of which have a Mission 300 Fellow and active CDMU staff. With more in the pipeline, these three CDMUs are being supported through previously announced funding to the Mission 300 Accelerator’s Technical Assistance Facility.

“Energy access is key to unlocking human potential and economic development. Mission 300 has been critical toward speeding the rate of connections in sub-Saharan Africa and giving people the ability to improve their lives and livelihoods,” said Andrew Herscowitz, CEO of RF Catalytic Capital’s Mission 300 Accelerator. “These additional investments will allow Mission 300 to go farther and do more so we can achieve our goal of connecting 300 million people to electricity by 2030.”

“Connecting 300 million people in Africa to electricity by 2030 is one of the most consequential development ambitions of this decade. But targets alone do not deliver transformation. What delivers transformation is execution: governments with the institutional capacity, coordination mechanisms and implementation infrastructure to move at speed and scale,” said Carol Koech, Vice President for Africa, Global Energy Alliance. “Compact Delivery and Monitoring Units are how bold National Energy Compacts become real. They align partners, strengthen institutions and ensure reforms translate into connections and economic opportunity. Through our work building the Grids of the Future and expanding Energy and Opportunity, the Global Energy Alliance is proud to partner with our Mission 300 partners to help countries turn ambition into affordable, abundant electricity and the means to use it to power jobs, growth and lasting systems change across Africa.”

Additionally, during Mission 300 Day at the 2026 Africa Energy Indaba, The Rockefeller Foundation also announced that:

• In collaboration with nonprofit impact accelerator CoAction Global, CDMU-based Mission 300 technical assistance fellowships are expanding to at least 18 African countries.
• The initial cohort of “Mission 300 Fellows” are already providing technical support to CDMUs in Burundi, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Republic of Congo, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.

• 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.

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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.

• 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

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.

• 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.

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.

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.

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.