• Initial collaboration exceeded deployment targets within two years;
• Partnership demonstrates how philanthropic and development finance institutions can align to enable faster deployment of capital into impact sectors;
• Expansion will support several distributed renewable energy (DRE) areas including energy for households and local enterprises, e-mobility, and climate-smart agri-tech;
• Specific focus on local representation and consideration for gender inclusion.

6 December 2023: The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and Shell Foundation, the U.K.-registered charity supporting energy access market solutions in Africa and South Asia, have signed an MOU expansion intended to increase the flow of commercial capital into DRE solutions in emerging markets.

DFC and Shell Foundation entered an MOU in 2021 with the aim of deploying $150 million into emerging market DRE solutions. Since then, the two organisations have established a strong working relationship and surpassed the expected total of capital deployed in less than two years.

The partnership has demonstrated the ability of philanthropic and development finance capital to work effectively together. This was done by leveraging Shell Foundation’s risk-tolerant capital and on-the-ground market knowledge alongside DFC to enable successful and earlier deployment of capital into high-impact businesses.

The ongoing partnership will continue to build on the strong working relationships, processes, and institutional knowledge to help drive greater impact for the DRE sector. Highlights of the collaboration to date include:

• DFC’s $40 million commitment to the Shell Foundation-seeded Energy Entrepreneurs Growth Fund;
• Shell Foundation’s $3 million investment into the Mirova SunFunder Gigaton Fund, alongside DFC’s $100 million commitment;
• DFC’s debt capital commitment of $8.9 million to India-based S4S Technologies for a gender-inclusive, climate-resilience project alongside $1.5 million of Shell Foundation de-risking capital;
• Collaboration on an innovative gender outcomes pilot with Shell Foundation and DFC clean mobility clients Ampersand and RevFin.

The MOU expansion is intended to substantially increase the flow of commercial capital into several focus areas within the DRE sector that align with DFC’s strategic priorities and Shell Foundation’s charitable objectives, including household energy, energy for mobility, and climate-focused agri-tech.

DFC and Shell Foundation have prioritized finding ways to promote greater investment in enterprises based in local countries. This is complemented by increased efforts for diverse and inclusive approaches to invest in and support improved outcomes for women clients in their respective portfolios. The MOU expansion reflects the intention to scale the results of this workstream so that it comprises the bedrock of multiple investments directly into enterprises and indirectly through funds and financial intermediaries.

“Successful working partnerships such as the one between Shell Foundation and DFC are critical to achieving a just and inclusive energy transition,” says Jonathan Berman, Shell Foundation CEO. “The success of the initial MOU and the potential within this expansion are reflections of the two organisations’ alignment in strategy, understanding of respective risk profiles, and joint commitment to support income-generating energy solutions that can impact millions of underserved customers across Africa and South Asia.”

“DFC is proud to grow the longstanding partnership with Shell Foundation to expand our collective support for critical renewable energy solutions across emerging markets,” says Aparna Shrivastava, DFC Deputy Chief Climate Officer. “DFC and Shell Foundation’s partnership encompasses a diverse and inclusive portfolio of clients and communities across the globe, and we are excited to see that footprint continue to grow. No one government or group of governments alone can bridge the climate financing gap to reach those in need in emerging markets – that’s why partnerships like this are essential.”

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About DFC: The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is the U.S. Government’s development finance institution. DFC partners with the private sector to finance solutions to the most critical challenges facing the developing world today. We invest across sectors including energy, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, and small business and financial services. DFC investments adhere to high standards and respect the environment, human rights, and worker rights.

About Shell Foundation: Shell Foundation is an endowed, U.K.-registered charity that catalyses clean energy innovation and unlocks inclusive investments in Africa and India, empowering millions of underserved customers – of which half are women – to earn a living income. 

6 December 2023: Ignite Power, a UAE-based climate-tech company scaling sustainable infrastructure solutions across Africa, proudly announces the receipt of grant support from the esteemed Catalytic Climate Finance Facility to introduce the groundbreaking Climate Credit Enhancement Facility (CCEF). This disruptive initiative aims to revolutionize the off-grid solar sector by offering a smart, data-driven guarantee mechanism for customer payments, thereby mitigating risks associated with ongoing payments and enabling accelerated growth in the sector.

Off-grid solar solutions have emerged as the most sustainable, scalable, and affordable means for providing electricity to remote rural communities. These solutions, particularly under the pay-as-you-go model, have already made a profound impact by granting hundreds of millions access to electricity. However, the customer payments under its model, primarily of some of the world’s poorest families, pose significant risks, deterring potential investors and financiers from supporting this thriving sector.

We are committed to tirelessly designing and implementing forward-thinking, disruptive models to connect communities in need and pave the way to a sustainable and inclusive future” — Angela Homsi, President, Ignite Power.

The CCEF, designed by Ignite Power, aims to eliminate these risks, facilitating capital mobilization at scale. This strategic endeavor aims to extend off-grid solar solutions to an additional 100 million people across the Sub-Saharan African region, paving the way for universal sustainable energy access.

“We are deeply honored to partner with such a prestigious organization that shares our vision for a disruptive model poised to generate substantial, large-scale impact”, says Angela Homsi, Ignite Power President. “This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to innovative solutions that transcend barriers and foster inclusive growth.”

Ignite Power has established itself as a leading executor of last-mile solar electrification projects, successfully connecting 2.5 million people across 18,000 villages. These initiatives have also contributed significantly to environmental sustainability by saving 600,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. The company proudly secured the 2023 Zayed Sustainability Prize for the Energy category, reaffirming its dedication to disruptive sustainable technologies and models.

“Despite remarkable progress in recent years, hundreds of millions of people across Africa still live without access to electricity,” says Homsi. “We are committed to tirelessly designing and implementing forward-thinking, disruptive models to connect these communities and pave the way to a sustainable and inclusive future”.

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About Ignite Power: Ignite Power is a leading climate-tech company specializing in last-mile solar-based infrastructure solutions. With a mission to provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy access to 100 million people across Africa, Ignite Power continues to lead the way in sustainable energy innovation, creating impact at scale and creating a cleaner, more inclusive future for Africa and the world.

About the Catalytic Climate Finance Facility (CC Facility): The Catalytic Climate Finance Facility (CC Facility) accelerates the implementation of high-impact, ready-to-scale financial structures through a suite of services that include grant funding, technical support, and a market-building learning hub. The CC Facility fills a market gap and reduces market fragmentation to mobilize private capital for climate action in developing economies. The CC Facility is a partnership between Climate Policy Initiative and Convergence. The CC Facility has raised USD 13 million to date and is fundraising for a second round of USD 10 million by September 2024 as we move toward our goal of reaching USD 100 million in size over the next few years.

About Convergence: Convergence is the global network for blended finance. On top of market acceleration through its Design Funding program, Convergence generates blended finance data, intelligence, and deal flow to increase private sector investment in developing countries. Convergence’s global membership includes over 160 public, private, and philanthropic investors as well as sponsors of transactions and funds. Convergence’s Design Funding Program operates as a market acceleration tool providing early-stage capital to support blended finance solutions in frontier markets and nascent sectors to accelerate the number of investible transactions in market targeting SDGs.

About Climate Policy Initiative: CPI is an analysis and advisory organization with deep expertise in finance and policy. Our mission is to help governments, businesses, and financial institutions drive economic growth while addressing climate change. CPI has six offices around the world in Brazil, India, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. CPI serves as the Secretariat for the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance (the Lab), an incubator program that develops innovative financial mechanisms to drive private investments into climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing economies.

4 December 2023: Today, Acumen launched Hardest-to-Reach, a $250 million initiative to activate clean energy markets in Africa’s underserved geographies. Critical to achieving universal energy access, the initiative was unveiled at the SDG7 Pavilion at COP28 alongside key supporter the Green Climate Fund (GCF). It will build on Acumen’s success of providing energy access to low-income communities living beyond the grid in sub-Saharan Africa. Hardest-to-Reach is the first blended finance initiative exclusively dedicated to expanding clean and affordable energy access for low-income people in neglected markets in Africa.

Additional key funders include USAID Power Africa, Sir Christopher Hohn, The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), and Shinhan Bank.

“There is currently a planet-sized market failure that impedes Africa’s clean energy future,” said Jacqueline Novogratz, Founder and CEO of Acumen. “That’s not just a loss for the hundreds of millions of people directly affected by limited access to electricity; the entire world loses out by leaving Africa behind. And bringing clean energy to those without electricity today is one of the most powerful things we do for both adaptation and long-term mitigation. At Acumen, we’ve worked with entrepreneurs in the energy sector who have taken capital, demonstrated the viability of their companies to private investors, and provided clean energy to hundreds of millions and jobs to hundreds of thousands. We look forward to multiplying these successes with the goal of achieving universal energy access and avoiding millions of tons of carbon emissions in the coming years.”

In developing countries, climate ambitions are overshadowed by massive energy deficits. 675 million people live without electricity access – 80 percent of whom are in sub-Saharan Africa – and still rely on kerosene, charcoal, wood, petrol and diesel to fuel their lives beyond the grid. This new initiative will uplift sub-Saharan countries with low electrification and high poverty rates by supporting off-grid solar companies through flexible, impact-first financing.

“Through $65 million in direct funding, the Green Climate Fund is proud to team up with Acumen to accelerate just, inclusive energy transitions in sub-Saharan Africa’s poorest regions, often neglected by traditional investors,” said Green Climate Fund Executive Director, Mafalda Duarte. “The Hardest-to-Reach programme blends debt, equity, grants and technical assistance to create and open up markets in new regions, providing clean energy for an estimated 60-plus million people across 16 countries, including Somalia.”

In addition to grants and equity, Hardest-to-Reach uses an innovative impact-linked financing approach to meet the needs of off-grid energy companies at each stage of their development.

“Acumen has been a crucial investor in our company not just as a financier but also as a long-term strategic partner,” said Jonathan Cedar, co-founder and CEO of BioLite. “Without their investment, BioLite would not have grown by 50x and expanded our reach to impact 8 million lives and offset 2 million tons of carbon.”

“I am excited to partner with Acumen and share their determination to achieve universal energy access in sub-Saharan Africa. Acumen’s unique track record of investing at the intersection of poverty and climate sets this initiative apart,” said Sir Christopher Hohn, co-founder and Chair of The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF).

Acumen is consistently recognized as a preferred partner by impact-focused climate financiers with $153 million in committed capital in their sponsored funds, in addition to their direct investing work. Acumen’s focus on serving marginalized communities in the transition to clean energy has resulted in investments in 40 companies, positively impacting over 223 million lives and preventing 58.5 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

The initiative was made possible thanks to early support from the Fourdoves Foundation, Good Energies Foundation, The Osprey Foundation, UK aid from the UK Government via the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) Platform, The Bill & Melinda Nussey Foundation, Reed Hastings, and Chris Anderson & Jacqueline Novogratz.

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About Acumen: Acumen is changing the way the world tackles poverty by investing in companies, leaders and ideas. We invest Patient Capital in businesses whose products and services are enabling the poor to transform their lives. Founded by Jacqueline Novogratz in 2001, Acumen has invested more than $154 million in 167 companies across Africa, Latin America, South Asia and the United States. We are also developing a global community of emerging leaders with the knowledge, skills and determination to create a more inclusive world. In 2015, Acumen was named one of Fast Company’s Top 10 Most Innovative Not-for-Profit Companies. For more information, visit: www.acumen.org.

About the Green Climate Fund: The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is the world’s largest dedicated climate fund. GCF’s mandate is to foster a paradigm shift towards low-emission, climate-resilient development pathways in developing countries. GCF has a portfolio of USD 13.5 billion (USD 51.8 billion including co-financing) delivering transformative climate action in more than 120 countries. It also has a readiness support programme that builds capacity and helps countries develop long-term plans to fight climate change. GCF is an operating entity of the financial mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and serves the 2015 Paris Agreement, supporting the goal of keeping average global temperature rise well below 2°C.

1 December 2023: The competition stage of the Zero Emission Generators (ZE-Gen) Circularity Challenge has announced The CoolCycle Project as the overall winning innovation, selected to receive USD $50,000 to help bring its transformative solution to life.

The CoolCycle Project is the combined effort of two Nigeria-based organisations – Youth Sustainable Development Network and KAMIM Technologies, led by Damilola Hamid Balogun and Adekoyejo Kuye. Having been selected to receive the $50,000 competition prize, Cool Cycle will use the funding to launch a pilot project in Epe, Lagos State, Nigeria.

The CoolCycle Project repurposes parts from disused generators to create affordable, energy-efficient solar-powered cooling systems, addressing generator waste and cooling needs to transform waste into wealth for Nigerian farmers.

The cold storage systems will be deployed at farm clusters, first-mile distribution/aggregation centres, local markets, and other critical points across the food supply chain. This solution simultaneously tackles post-harvest losses and environmental challenges associated with end-of-life generators. The project’s pilot in Epe will involve the repurposing of eight end-of-life generators, resulting in the construction of two commercial-size walk-in 5000kg capacity cold rooms, deployed on two farms.

The ZE-Gen Circularity Challenge, launched in May 2023, aims to accelerate the circularity of fossil fuel-powered generators in Nigeria. Through the multi-stage competition, applicants were assessed against key criteria, including potential scalability, circular economy alignment, fossil fuel displacement, job creation opportunities, innovation, and sustainable development consideration. The selection panel was comprised of four Nigeria-based sector experts: Kemi Ajakaiye – Board member of African Circular Economy Network, Tomilola Olakiigbe – Finance Manager at All On, Yasmin Osaghae – Country Coordinator at Manufacturing Africa and Zira Quaghe – Nigeria Advisor at Integrate to Zero. The top three candidates received funding of $10,000 each, undertaking an eight-week feasibility study to develop and test their technologies, culminating in a final pitch presentation to the panel of experts to determine an ultimate winner.

Reflecting on the vision and ambition of the project, Adekoyejo Kuye, The CoolCycle Project Co-Ordinator said: “Waste management is undergoing a shift from a linear model to a circular and resource recovery one, and The CoolCycle Project exemplifies this transformation in action. Our initiative revolves around the innovative repurposing of components from discarded generators, seamlessly integrating them into cost-effective cooling solutions to mitigate environmental hazards associated with end-of-life fossil generators, enhance access to sustainable energy, and deliver essential cooling solutions to underserved communities. We are confident in the transformative potential of this project, and to scale from these commercial pilots to other farming communities across Nigeria”.

Further updates will be shared on the progress of the winning project as the deployment of the pilot project gets underway over the coming months.

The competition was closely contested, with innovative ideas and passionate teams vying for the prize. Deserving of recognition, the two runners up from the feasibility study stage: Husk Power and Nevadic Solar.

Husk Power’s design repurposes fossil fuel generators into solar-powered irrigation water pumps, promoting resilient agriculture and inclusive livelihoods. The company’s feasibility study involved extensive market research in the rural communities where it had already deployed solar mini-grids. Husk also researched the generator market, business models, and opportunities for emissions reduction, socio-economic impacts, and profitability.

Nevadic Solar, (Project Re-imagine) conducted a feasibility study on disassembling end-of-life generators to create prime movers (PRPMs) for applications in rural Nigerian communities: powering irrigation pumps, food grinding and rice milling machines. The study addressed a number of key research questions related to the repurposing of generators for use in the agricultural sector, including the efficiency of renewable energy systems for driving equipment, and the feasibility of converting alternators from generators into a DC motor. Ultimately, the company was able to prove its concept by constructing a milling machine from generator parts.

Results from The CoolCycle Project will be shared at the end of the demonstration phase.

28 November 2023: A new World Bank program is set to exponentially accelerate sustainable and clean energy access and provide life-transforming opportunities for 100 million people in up to 20 countries across Eastern and Southern Africa over the next seven years.

In a region where only 48% of the overall population—and just 26% in rural areas—has access to electricity, the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) Program will be a game-changer. Lack of energy access hinders the region’s economic recovery, resilience, and faster progress toward poverty reduction. It also results in significant food spoilage owing to lack of refrigeration, particularly in countries already plagued with food insecurity, and plays a role in poor health outcomes given that less than half of all hospitals in the region have reliable electricity access.

“The lack of energy access is the most significant challenge to development progress in the region today. The ASCENT program is a game changer in efforts to address universal access to energy and the clean energy transition, bringing together global and local knowledge, with a menu-based approach for empowering countries to pursue their national energy-access goals while leveraging regional integration opportunities,” said Victoria Kwakwa, World Bank Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa. “By pooling our knowledge and resources from across the World Bank — (the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) — in collaboration with partners from the public and private sector, we can leverage the IDA financing envelope of $5 billion for an additional $10 billion that will unlock opportunities and transform millions of lives.”

The ASCENT program outcomes will include increased productivity, more and better job opportunities, access to information and technologies, improved health, reduced time spent on cooking chores, improved resilience and better services provided by electrified schools and health clinics. Women, who are often disproportionately burdened by the lack of energy access, will benefit the most. They will also be provided additional income-generating and employment opportunities to unleash their economic potential.

The ASCENT components will be organized into three pillars, the first of which focuses on the development of regional and national platforms to enable economies of scale and cost reduction strategies. “Through the regional platforms, countries will align regional and national planning processes, mobilize financing at regional scale, and aggregate climate benefits at regional level to mobilize climate/impact financing. The regional platforms will include the ASCENT Regional Acceleration Platform, a comprehensive knowledge and technical assistance facility implemented by Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the ASCENT Regional Energy Access Financing Platform, implemented by the Trade and Development Bank, supporting the region’s distributed renewable energy and clean cooking companies,” said Boutheina Guermazi, World Bank Director of Regional Integration for Africa and the Middle East.

The second pillar will contribute to expanding grid electrification through investment and technical assistance on grid densification and expansion; grid connections, reinforcement and upgrading; and variable renewable energy (VRE) integration investments. It will also strengthen energy utilities, including building capacity of management and monitoring systems, increasing digitization, revenue protection programs, and other improvements needed to deliver fast-paced electrification.

The third pillar will finance investments in scaling distributed renewables (DREs) and clean cooking to expand energy access for households, enterprises, farmers, schools, health clinics, and other institutions, including through financial intermediary financing.

The program will start in four countries (Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia and Tanzania) and will expand to up to 20 countries in the region over the next seven years. These four countries were selected as ASCENT champions, representative of the energy access stages and contexts found in the region, thereby providing both inspiration and lessons for countries facing similar conditions.

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About World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA): The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 74 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to the 1.3 billion people who live in IDA countries. Since 1960, IDA has provided $458 billion to 114 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $29 billion over the last three years (FY19-FY21), with about 70 percent going to Africa. For more information, visit: IDA.worldbank.org.

• AMEA Power has now announced the closing and funding of a $75 million equity funding round from SoftBank Group Corp. (“SBG”), a Japanese investment holding company.

21 November 2023: AMEA Power, one of the fastest growing renewable energy developers in Africa, has closed and received funding for a $75 million equity funding round from SoftBank Group Corp. (“SBG”), a Japanese investment holding company.

SBG’s funding brings together a mutual partnership with SBG joining the Board of AMEA Power. Several international institutional strategic corporate and financial investors are also evaluating a potential investment following on from the SBG investment.

Citigroup Global Markets Limited acted as a Financial Advisor to AMEA Power.

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About AMEA Power: Headquartered in Dubai, AMEA Power is a developer, owner and operator of renewable energy projects. As one of the fastest growing renewable energy companies in the region, the company is rapidly expanding its investments in wind, solar, energy storage and green hydrogen, demonstrating its long-term commitment to the global energy transition. AMEA Power has assembled a world class team of industry experts to deliver projects across Africa, the Middle East and other emerging markets. For more information, visit: www.ameapower.com.

13 November 2023: Leading cleantech utility and energy access company, Havenhill Synergy Limited, ‘Havenhill’ announces the successful deployment of a 1MWp Solar PV Plant at Ado Bayero Mall, an ultra-modern shopping mall in Northern Nigeria located in the heart of Kano City.

This ground-breaking project represents the largest solar power purchase agreement signed for a shopping mall in Nigeria. With this installation, the roof-mounted power plant will generate 1.285 GW of clean energy annually. This project is estimated to offset up to 1,797.48 metric tons of CO2 emissions each year, equivalent to the positive environmental impact of planting over 70,000 trees annually. The project also contributes to the fight against climate change, local air pollution and noise pollution.

Speaking about this landmark achievement, Olusegun Odunaiya, the CEO of Havenhill, stated, “We are excited to have deployed the 1MW Solar PV Plant at Ado Bayero Mall, a testament to our unwavering dedication to providing innovative energy solutions in Nigeria. The increasing costs of fossil fuels, including diesel and petrol, underscore the immense potential for the large-scale adoption of solar energy in the country. With co-financing from Sterling Bank Plc, this project highlights the importance of local currency investments for the development of power infrastructure in Nigeria.”

Spanning over 10 hectares, the mall provides a vast 24,000 m² of retail and entertainment space, accommodating both local and international shopping retailers, a modern multi-screen cinema, and a variety of offerings including restaurants and media stores. The solar PV system’s integration powers critical infrastructure within the facility, including chillers, water treatment plants, the administrative building, and the various stores. The mall’s transition to solar power, not only aligns with its commitment to sustainability but also significantly contributes to reducing carbon emissions and minimizing operational costs.

The Board & Management of Beverly Dev. & Realties Limited (Owners of Ado Bayero Mall) said, “We are proud of the milestone inauguration of the 1MW Solar PV Plant at the Mall in collaboration with Havenhill Limited. This marks a significant step in our commitment to sustainable operations and reinforces our dedication to environmental responsibility. We are thrilled to be at the forefront of eco-friendly initiatives within the commercial sector in Kano, demonstrating our dedication to both the community and the environment while reducing operational expenses.

Speaking on the installation, the Group Head, Oil & Gas, Power and Renewable Energy at Sterling Bank, Dele Faseemo, said that this installation further demonstrates the viability of powering commercial properties with renewable energy sources. According to Faseemo, “With rising energy costs, powering commercial properties in a sustainably affordable manner will become the norm in the near future.”

Havenhill Synergy Limited spearheaded the deployment of this project under her Energizing Commerce & Industry business unit through a long-term power purchase agreement. The goals of this project include reducing reliance on fossil fuels, curbing carbon emissions, diversifying the energy mix, cutting operational expenses, and ensuring long-term sustainability.

The successful implementation of the 1MW Solar PV Plant at Ado Bayero Mall underscores the collaborative efforts of Havenhill Synergy Limited, Beverly Development and Realties Limited, and Sterling Bank, showcasing the dedication and commitment of all stakeholders towards environmental responsibility and sustainable energy practices.

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About HAVENHILL: Havenhill Synergy Limited is a clean-tech utility company that uses solar energy to generate clean, safe, cost-effective and sustainable electricity in rural and urban Nigeria. Havenhill does this through business units namely: Energizing Communities (Rural Electrification), Energizing Healthcare, Energizing Commerce (Commercial & Industrial), Energizing Agriculture and Energizing Education.

In rural areas, Havenhill deploys smart solar mini-grids to commercially viable off-grid rural communities. In urban areas, Havenhill helps businesses (like factories, large farms etc) reduce their energy cost and provide them with more reliable energy access through our Commercial & Industrial (C&I) solar offering. For more information, visit: www.havenhillsynergy.com.

9 November 2023: Stichting Clean Energy and Energy Inclusion for Africa (CEI Africa) announces its intention to award a results-based financing (RBF) grant for a total of up to USD 1,886,700 to WeLight, a green mini-grid (GMG) developer, for the densification and construction of mini-grids in rural communities in Mali.

WeLight was awarded the RBF grant to support the densification of five mini-grids and the construction of nine mini-grids to connect rural communities in Mali, resulting in nearly 35,000 individuals gaining access to productive and renewable electricity.

The project marks a significant milestone in WeLight’s expansion and ongoing efforts to electrify Mali. Having achieved initial successes in the rural areas of Madagascar, WeLight is positioned to amplify energy access in Mali with the ambitious aim of electrifying 50 to 70 villages within the next two years. The country faces considerable electrification challenges, especially in remote rural areas off the main grid. Concurrently, Mali has tremendous untapped solar energy potential.

WeLight launched its activities in Mali in 2021 with the installation of five solar mini-grids resulting in 1,000 connections. This new phase is a testament to the positive results of the operator’s initial efforts. In the RBF-supported project, WeLight anticipates the creation of over 3,500 new connections. Once electricity is provided, WeLight fosters services tailored to the unique needs of residents and the village, emphasizing rural entrepreneurial development. These services span powering schools and public services, refrigeration, productive agricultural services, small-scale industries, eateries, and other utilities.

CEI Africa has allocated EUR 21M to support project developers to finance GMGs through RBF, including the provision of technical assistance. Renewvia, Kudura, and PowerHive were selected in CEI Africa’s first call for site-specific applications. WeLight’s project supports CEI Africa’s goal of improving energy access for households in rural sub-Saharan Africa, and in this case in a country where more than 53.4 percent of the population still lacks energy access.

“This collaboration will strengthen rural electrification efforts in Mali,” stated Moez Zouaoui, the country coordinator for WeLight Mali. “It signifies a considerable milestone, reaching nine additional villages and 3,500 residents. Access to productive electricity is vital, as it enables socio-economic development across various domains for the community. We extend our heartfelt thanks to CEI, as well as the Malian government and authorities, for their steadfast support in advancing rural energy access.”

“On behalf of CEI Africa, we are delighted to support the expansion of energy access in Mali,” said Claudia Vroom, Board member of CEI Africa. WeLight’s off-grid solutions empower communities by providing reliable power that fuels economic and social development.”

The RBF grant award is pursuant to fulfillment of certain conditions precedent agreed to between CEI Africa, and WeLight, which includes, among others, the execution of a Grant Agreement. The RBF grant funding will be disbursed upon completion of new electricity connections.

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About WeLight: Established in 2018, WeLight delivers clean, affordable, reliable, and productive energy to remote rural populations in Madagascar and Sub-Saharan Africa. Targeting isolated villages, WeLight significantly drives their socio-economic growth. Our firm merges on-ground expertise with cutting-edge technology, integrating mini-grids and renewable energy sources to enable energy inclusion for these villages. Notably, WeLight is the premier company in Madagascar to earn the “B Corp” certification, a prestigious international distinction awarded to businesses upholding the most stringent social and environmental standards.

About CEI Africa: CEI Africa was established by the German development finance institution KfW on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in 2021 to improve access to energy for rural and peri-urban households and enterprises in sub-Saharan Africa. CEI Africa is managed by Triple Jump B.V., Persistent, and GreenMax Capital Group. It is a one-stop shop for mini-grid developers and other off-grid energy companies, offering a variety of financing instruments. The implementation of the Foundation’s Crowdlending window, which provides debt and investment products in collaboration with European Crowdlenders, is led by Persistent. CEI Africa has allocated EUR 28M to support off-grid energy companies and mini-grid project developers through co-financing with Crowdlenders, including the provision of Technical Assistance. GreenMax manages the Results-based and impact-based financing window, offering results-based financing grants and forgivable loans.

8 November 2023: Meeting last week in Abuja and Lagos for the 2023 Energy Transition Forum, Nigeria’s leading energy experts have outlined the country’s roadmap to decarbonisation, and discussed what it will take to deliver universal access to clean energy for Nigerian households and businesses.

Speaking in front of senior representatives of some of Nigeria’s most prominent private and public organisations, Wale Yusuff, Managing Director of Wärtsilä in Nigeria, explained how the most advanced studies had shown that decarbonising Nigeria was not only feasible, but that it could also be done in a way that lowered the cost of electricity going forward.

“A lot of Nigerians still think that a renewable energy-based power system is expensive and unreliable, but it doesn’t have to be. On the contrary, I am confident we can reach universal and reliable access to low-cost clean power provided we don’t lose sight of the big picture strategy and develop the power system in logical steps. All the technologies needed for a net zero power system in Nigeria are already a reality: renewables, energy storage, balancing power plants, and sustainable fuels such as green hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol. These are the key ingredients needed to achieve our green electrification goals. When these technologies are combined in an adequate fashion, they deliver the lowest cost of electricity. Smart planning, strategy and transparent government regulations will do the rest”, Yusuff said.

Wind and solar are by far the cheapest source of new electricity available, so their massive deployment is what will significantly bring the overall system costs down. But as the share of renewables increases in power generation, the volatility of the system will surge, explained Yusuff. “That’s why grid flexibility is going to be the true cornerstone of Nigeria’s decarbonisation efforts.”, he said.

In other words, as wind and solar grow to become the dominant source of energy, their intermittent nature will need to be compensated by flexible power capacities to ensure that the supply of electricity always matches demand. Flexibility in the grid comes from balancing power technologies, namely energy storage and engine power plants, which help avoid unnecessary stress in the power system.

To meet the explosive growth of Nigeria’s electricity demand, the country’s power infrastructure must also be quickly expanded and modernised, both in terms of generation and transmission. “Bridging our infrastructure gap will require the union of different market forces: financing institutions both multilateral and local, government planning and private capital involvement.”, said Yusuff.

Ultimate fuel flexibility

Last year, Wärtsilä released a report which provides a detailed and realistic roadmap showing how Nigeria should proceed to build a 100% renewable energy power system by 2060.

The report shows that Nigeria has everything it needs to successfully accomplish its electrification goals. It benefits from fantastic solar energy resources, but it also has significant, and largely untapped gas resources.

Gas is a key transitional energy source that is set to play an important role in the country’s electrification. That’s why the gas infrastructure must also be rapidly ramped up. Cheap domestic gas is necessary to fuel the flexible engine power plants we need to balance a renewable grid in the short and medium term.

What is more, engine power plants offer the significant advantage of being able to run on different fuels, from natural gas and heavy fuel oil today, to locally produced green hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol tomorrow as they become competitive and broadly available. In this sense, they are the ultimate “future-proof” technology, meaning they are an ideal foundation on which a fully carbon neutral power system can realistically be built.

Future fuels are quickly becoming a reality in Africa. For example, very large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia plants, powered by renewable energy, are already being developed in South Africa by industry consortiums. Wärtsilä’s engine power plants, on the other hand, are expected to be able to function on methanol by the end of this year, on green Ammonia next year, and on green hydrogen by 2026. “The outlook for the use of future fuels in flexible engine power plants is indeed very positive”, concluded Yusuff.

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About Wärtsilä Energy: Wärtsilä Energy leads the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future. We help our partners to accelerate their decarbonisation journeys through our market-leading technologies and power system modelling expertise. These cover decarbonisation services, future-fuel enabled balancing power plants, hybrid solutions, energy storage and optimisation technology, including the GEMS Digital Energy Management Platform. Wärtsilä Energy’s lifecycle services are designed to increase efficiency, promote reliability and guarantee operational performance. Our track record comprises 76 GW of power plant capacity and 110 energy storage systems delivered to 180 countries around the world. For more information, visit: https://www.wartsila.com/energy.

7 November 2023: Easy Solar, a leading last-mile energy access and distribution company in West Africa, is pleased to announce it has raised USD 7 million in debt and equity from Acumen, Cygnum Capital and Triodos Investment Management.

Alexandre Tourre, the CEO of Easy Solar, explained what this means for the group: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have secured an investment from Triodos Investment Management. They bring a deep expertise in C&I solar, which is a critical growth area for Easy Solar in the current context of rapidly increasing energy prices in the region. Cygnum Capital and Acumen are historical investors who have supported our vision for many years by making impactful finance available where it is most needed and we’re delighted to expand our work with them. Together, we are at the forefront of building a clean energy future for West Africa.”

In partnership with TCX, Cygnum Capital’s facility will expand Easy Solar’s access to local currency financing in Sierra Leone, while Acumen will support the company with an innovative affordable inventory financing instrument tailor designed for hard to reach markets. On the Equity side, Triodos Investment Management will support the growth of Easy Solar’s burgeoning solar C&I business in the region, as well the company’s regional expansion plans.

Jiwoo Choi, Chief of Strategic Initiatives at Acumen, commented on the work done with Easy Solar: “Over the past six years, we have built a strong partnership with Easy Solar and have been inspired by their dedication to bringing transformative energy access to underserved and hard-to-reach communities through a solid business model. We are thrilled to extend our relationship through this deal, which is set to amplify the company’s impact in Sierra Leone.”

“This is our first exposure to so-called small-home-solutions and small-scale commercial and industrial solutions”, explains Marius Groenenberg, Principal Investment Manager at Triodos Investment Management. “Both are growing and important segments for energy in Africa, especially in the frontier markets where Easy Solar is active. Off-grid solar solutions have proven to be more than just a way to provide clean, affordable, and reliable electricity to underserved communities. Through the wide range of energy solutions offered by Easy Solar, customers are given the chance to boost their economic development thanks to the accelerated development of productive activity in these communities in a vast untapped market.”

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About Easy Solar: Easy Solar, a leading last-mile energy access and distribution company in West Africa, building a widely recognized brand and a rapidly growing C&I business. Via its 300+ points of sales and deep network of agents, Easy Solar is uniquely positioned to reach the last mile clients, as well as provide clean energy solutions to households, hospitals, education centers and businesses. The company has powered over a million lives in Sierra Leone and Liberia since 2016.

• REPP 2 builds on the legacy of the Camco-managed Renewable Energy Performance Platform (REPP);
• Green Climate Fund’s endorsement of investment follows signing of indicative term sheet for a further investment of up to USD 50m from REPP into REPP 2.

25 October 2023: The Board of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved the allocation of USD 50m in equity to REPP 2, a new debt fund providing an opportunity to invest in Sub-Saharan Africa’s fast-growing renewable energy market.

Climate and impact fund manager Camco is developing REPP 2 as a USD 250m fund designed to deliver significant climate, economic and gender impacts while ensuring sustainable returns for investors.

Latest research shows that approximately 590m people in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have access to electricity, with the International Energy Agency claiming USD 22bn is needed annually to deliver reliable energy access across the continent by 2030 to meet SDG7. At the same time, Africa is facing increasing climate hazards and countries require as estimated USD 2.8tn by 2030 to implement their Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement.

REPP 2 has been structured as a paradigm-shifting blended finance facility leveraging public, private and commercial funding to invest in small-scale and decentralised renewable energy projects in Sub-Saharan African countries.

Through its private sector approach, and a strong focus on supporting communities vulnerable to climate change, it is projected that over REPP 2’s lifetime the fund will:

• make 35-40 investments that support the development of decentralised renewable energy and strengthen the resilience of national grid infrastructure to promote economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Least Developed Countries
• provide 7.7m people with new or improved access to clean, reliable and affordable power across Africa, increasing economic opportunities and access to productive use of energy activities
• mitigate 12.7m tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in greenhouse gas emissions over projects’ lifetime
• invest USD 70m in projects aligned with 2X’s gender lens investing criteria, and
• mobilise USD 786m in third-party funding for green growth in target countries.

With its blended finance structure, REPP 2 represents an evolutionary step from the USD 120m REPP facility, which was fully funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Today’s announcement comes after the REPP Board signed an indicative term sheet for a junior equity investment of up to USD 50m from REPP into REPP 2. The combined junior equity investments of up to USD 100m from the GCF and REPP are designed to protect capital, and to generate an appropriate level of returns to REPP 2’s commercial investors.

Ben Hugues, Investment Director at Camco, said: “REPP 2 builds on the successes and lessons from REPP to provide a new fund that will offer significant commercial investment into Africa’s renewable energy sector, underpinning the continent’s green growth potential. Drawing on Camco’s 30-year track record in renewable energy investing, REPP 2 is projected to deliver sustainable financial returns and multiple developmental, social and environmental benefits.

“We are naturally delighted at the prospect of working with the Green Climate Fund on this new venture.”

Peter Coveliers, REPP Board member and one of the founders of the REPP initiative, said: “Blended finance is instrumental in attracting private sector funds to support a clean energy transition and green growth in Africa.

“By building on the many strengths of REPP and by adopting a well-designed blended finance structure, REPP 2 has the potential to unlock significant additional investment capital to fund climate-related projects on the continent. It’s truly exciting to be part of supporting REPP 2 as it builds upon REPP’s impressive legacy of achievements.”

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About REPP 2: REPP 2 is a private debt fund designed and managed by Camco that focuses on the energy transition in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is structured as a blended finance facility to ensure an appropriate risk-adjusted return to investors and aims to deliver significant climate, environmental, economic and gender impacts through the financing of small and medium-scale renewable energy assets. Funding from the GCF in REPP 2 will initially focus on Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Zambia.

REPP 2 builds on the legacy of the Camco-managed Renewable Energy Performance Platform (REPP). REPP was set up in 2015 to accelerate Africa’s transition to a sustainable development pathway by providing flexible capital to small-scale, decentralised renewable energy projects and developers, and demonstrate their operational feasibility to other investors and lenders. To date, REPP has invested in 43 renewable energy companies and projects across 20 countries, leading to over 1.3m people being connected to electricity for the first time and 387MW of renewable energy capacity installed and under development. For more information, visit: https://camco.fm/repp-2.

About Camco: Camco is a specialist climate and impact fund manager, leading the transition in emerging markets. We offer clean, secure investments, pairing the conscience of a development bank with the agility of a private company. Camco is an Accredited Entity of the Green Climate Fund and is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. The company has offices in Accra, Auckland, Helsinki, Johannesburg, London, Nairobi, Sydney and Toronto. For more information, visit: https://camco.fm.

About Green Climate Fund: The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is the world’s largest dedicated climate fund. GCF’s mandate is to foster a paradigm shift towards low emission, climate-resilient development pathways in developing countries.

GCF has a portfolio of USD 12.8bn (USD 48.3bn including co-financing) delivering transformative climate action in more than 120 countries.

It also has a readiness support programme that builds capacity and helps countries develop long-term plans to fight climate change. GCF is an operating entity of the financial mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and serves the 2015 Paris Agreement, supporting the goal of keeping average global temperature rise well below 2°C. For more information, visit: https://www.greenclimate.fund/.

• CrossBoundary Access and Mobile Power announce a $10 million partnership to deploy Mobile Power’s MOPO Hubs in Nigeria;
• This is the first transaction in Africa to use an infrastructure financing approach to invest in battery-swapping technology;
• The partnership will provide 300,000 people with access to energy without upfront costs using solar-powered, pay-per-use MOPO Batteries, employing local agents and enabling low-cost connections.

4 October 2023: CrossBoundary Access and Mobile Power are announcing a $10 million partnership to deploy MOPO Hubs in Nigeria, providing energy access to 300,000 people using an innovative battery service. CrossBoundary Access has committed an initial $2.25 million for the transaction, with the option to extend up to $10 million.

Solar energy has revolutionized the generation of electricity. MOPO Batteries – and the supporting hardware and software – are revolutionizing the distribution of electricity. For Mobile Power, this new partnership allows the company to accelerate deployment of its technology in Nigeria. For CrossBoundary Access, MOPO Hubs complement its mini-grid portfolio by allowing faster, lower cost deployment, and extending the service range of CrossBoundary Access’ infrastructure beyond the cost-effective limits of traditional distribution infrastructure that use poles and wires.

CrossBoundary Access will finance the development and construction activities and will own the projects, while Mobile Power will ensure that residents receive clean, reliable electricity for years to come.

MOPO Hubs, powered by solar energy, allow customers to access energy without upfront costs with no consumer debt through secure pay-per-use MOPO batteries distributed by local Mobile Power agents.

An average MOPO Hub creates four full-time jobs for local women and men. MOPO Hubs, designed for rapid, light-touch deployment, are located conveniently within communities without the need for cabling. This low-cost connection strategy, along with the ability to collect usage data, allows CrossBoundary Access to optimise the locations of its future mini-grid sites and connections. Together, CrossBoundary Access and Mobile Power are committed to increasing socio-economic opportunities and expand energy access to new customers.

CrossBoundary Access were advised in the transaction by Foley Hoag LLP. Mobile Power were advised by Knights PLC.

Lynne Wesonga, Associate Director and transaction lead for CrossBoundary Access, says, “This transaction shows the impact of combining innovative financing with innovative technology. CrossBoundary Access will be able to deploy capital more efficiently while delivering electricity to more people at a faster pace. Our agreement with Mobile Power is one more milestone towards closing the gap on the 600 million people in Africa who lack access to electricity.”

Chris Longbottom, CEO, Mobile Power, says, “This deal represents a tipping point for energy infrastructure investment on the continent. Mobile Power and CrossBoundary Access are taking the first step in a revolutionary journey deploying scalable real-life solutions to previously intractable infrastructure problems. This transaction further validates our innovative approach to energy access.”

Gabriel Davies, Managing Director and co-founder of CrossBoundary Access, says, “This is what the grid of the future looks like. Using batteries to distribute electricity is the biggest revolution in the power sector since the invention of the transformer. To be clear – we still believe poles and wires are the best way to get large amounts of power to big energy consumer. But innovations like MOPO’s battery swapping tech allow us to match distribution capex with customer needs.”

Michiel Bakker, CFO, Mobile Power, says, “This partnership is a huge step forward for us in our mission to deploy significant investment capital into affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions to improve economic productivity in communities across Africa. With this partnership we are making a further important step towards connecting millions of households in the coming years.”

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About CrossBoundary Access: CrossBoundary Access is Africa’s first blended finance platform for mini-grids. CrossBoundary Access uses an innovative blended finance approach to invest in mini-grids and provide 24/7 gridquality power to households and businesses in rural Africa. CrossBoundary Access reached first close in June 2022 with $25 million from ARCH Emerging Markets Partners Limited, Bank of America, and Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund. In September 2023, the platform secured an additional $10 million from AfDB’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA). CrossBoundary Access continues to raise and deploy a total of $150 million of blended project finance over the next three years to bring clean energy to one million people in Africa. CrossBoundary Access is a member of the CrossBoundary Group. For more information, visit: hwww.crossboundary.com/energy-access/.

About Mobile Power: Mobile Power is a growth company that deploys affordable and practical energy infrastructure in Africa. Their various sized MOPO Batteries provide energy-as-a-service to a wide range of customers across Africa. The larger sized battery, MOPOMax, is used for AC appliances, businesses and emobility whilst the smaller MOPO50 Battery is used for phone charging, lighting and other small appliances. MOPO Batteries have integrated payment technology, only discharging energy upon agent payment through the MOPO App. MOPO Batteries are distributed to customers by MOPO Agents from Mobile Power’s growing network of hubs, which are solarpowered and conveniently located within the community, providing the energy infrastructure required for economies to grow. For more information, visit: www.mopo.co.

28 September 2023: Gaia Impact, an impact investment advisory firm that launched a coalition in March last year with Capital Croissance, Schneider Electric, Capelan, and Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P), has achieved its first closing target of €40 million for the Gaia Energy Impact Fund II (GEIF II).

GEIF II, a fund meeting stringent impact criteria related to Article 9 of the SFDR regulation, aims to finance and support startups and SMEs operating across the entire value chain of decentralized renewable energies, leveraging Gaia Impact’s expertise. The previous investment vehicle, Gaia Impact Fund SAS (“Fund 1”), invested in around a dozen companies, primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Osmosun, which recently successfully went public on Euronext Growth®.

Following the same investment thesis, GEIF II is poised to invest in seed, Series A, and Series B stages, in equity and quasi-equity, with ticket sizes ranging from €500,000 to €5 million. The fund aims to invest in approximately twenty companies, with around 85% of them active in Sub-Saharan Africa.

GEIF II investments will be made in the sectors of decarbonized energy access, productive use of energy, electric mobility, new energies, and enabling technologies. They are expected to provide improved energy access to 4 million people, create and support 20,000 jobs, and avoid the emission of 4 million tons of CO2.

Capital Croissance, exclusively advised by the Gaia Impact team, is the fund manager of Gaia Energy Impact Fund II, while Schneider Electric and the family office Capelan are the two cornerstone investors of the fund. I&P, a specialist in private equity investment in Africa for 20 years, is a strategic partner of the fund, thanks to its local presence and experience in Africa.

The Gaia Impact team not only provides financial support to its investments but also positions itself as a patient and engaged partner alongside entrepreneurs, advising them on strategic decisions and participating in business structuring. Schneider Electric and I&P will contribute to supporting the investments in their respective areas of expertise.

GEIF II aims for a final closing of €80 million by the first half of 2024. During the summer, GEIF II made its first investment of $1 million in Surechill, a company based in Kenya that has developed technology revolutionizing medical and productive refrigeration.

Hélène Demaegt, Founder and President of Gaia Impact, commented on this first closing, saying, “We sincerely thank our partners for making the Gaia Impact adventure even more ambitious. Thanks to them, our action for the energy transition in Africa is taking on a new dimension.”

Eric Neuplanche, Founder and President of Capital Croissance, added, “We have been impressed by the achievements and high professionalism of the Gaia Impact team since 2017, and even more so by the strong social, societal, and environmental ambition of this impact fund. It replaces polluting energy with decarbonized energy and provides access to energy for 4 million people. The entire Capital Croissance team is proud and highly motivated to be associated with the Gaia Impact team, I&P, and Schneider Electric in a fund project that reconciles economic returns, social impact, and environmental impact.”

Jérémy Hajdenberg, co-CEO of I&P, emphasized, “I&P is proud to engage with Gaia Impact on this fundamental project, addressing both energy and SME financing issues. Beyond its participation in Investment Committees and governance, I&P will provide its expertise on ESG and impact and its network in Sub-Saharan Africa, built over more than 20 years of impact investment in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

Gilles Vermot Desroches, SVP Corporate Citizenship at Schneider Electric, stated, “Schneider Electric has been active for more than 10 years in supporting access to electricity, especially through its impact investment activity. We believe that this new coalition brings together the best assets to accelerate our impact in Africa. Schneider Electric will make its team’s expertise available for this project.”

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About Gaia Impact: Gaia Impact is an impact investment advisory firm that complies with the directives related to Article 9 of the SFDR regulation and holds the status of a mission-driven company. We are committed to driving the energy transition by investing in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that produce decarbonized energy or enable direct access to renewable energies in emerging countries, primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa. Our mission is to promote the development of clean and affordable energy to stimulate economic growth and reduce inequalities. Gaia Impact has established a specific process aimed at measuring and managing its impact, based on the measurement of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance, impact, and efficiency.

About Schneider Electric: Schneider’s purpose is to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On. Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency. We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, endpoint to cloud connecting products, controls, software, and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure, and industries. We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values.

About Capital Croissance: Backed by a community of 400 private investors and renowned institutional investors, Capital Croissance is a Private Equity management company authorized by the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF) with approximately €700 million in assets under management. They manage entrepreneur-focused funds that invest in privately held French SMEs and ETIs through equity investments during restructuring operations.

About Capelan: Capelan is a French family holding company based in Aix-en-Provence that supports and invests in projects that prioritize the long-term interests of both humans and nature.

About I&P: Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P) is a pioneering impact investment group, dedicated to financing and supporting entrepreneurs in Africa. Since its creation in 2002, I&P has supported more than 250 companies operating in various sectors, based in Sub-Saharan Africa, and finances at least 50 more SMEs each year. I&P’s team is spread over 10 sites in Africa (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Uganda) as well as in France and the United States (Washington DC). It counts more than 160 people specializing in investment, impact, and more generally in supporting African businesses.

19 September 2023: Africa’s first blended finance facility for mini-grids, CrossBoundary Access, announced $10 million in new funding commitments from the African Development Bank (AfDB) Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA).

This investment adds to the $25 million raised from ARCH Emerging Markets Partners Limited, Bank of America, and Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund in June last year to invest in CrossBoundary Access’ near-term pipeline of solar-powered mini-grids.

CrossBoundary Access will deploy a total of $150 million over the next three years to bring clean energy to one million people in Africa. The mini-grids combine solar and batteries to provide 24/7 grid-quality power to households and businesses. This initiative will enable individual local residential and small business subscribers to access renewable electricity for the first time. These solar-powered mini-grids will help bridge the gap by bringing clean electricity to rural areas of Africa that do not presently have access to electricity.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the solar mini-grid sector needs $187 billion to achieve universal energy access by 2030. CrossBoundary Access believes project finance is key to unlocking the long-term, infrastructure-type capital required for the mini-grid sector. CrossBoundary Access first pioneered its blended project finance structure in 2019 with funding from the Rockefeller Foundation, Ceniarth, DOEN Foundation, Shell Foundation, and UK Aid.

According to the IEA, nearly 580 million people in Africa do not have access to electricity. This puts a brake on economic growth, productive investment, job creation, and poverty reduction. Solar mini-grids provide a solution to this issue, unlocking the potential of those living without electricity. CrossBoundary Access’ blended finance approach creates a new model for funding rural electrification in Africa, bringing renewable electricity to one million people once the target $150 million is fully deployed.

Lynne Wesonga, Associate Director, CrossBoundary Access, says, “CrossBoundary Access is proud to partner with SEFA, AFDB to bring clean energy to people in rural Africa. This $10 million investment is a testament to the growing maturity of the mini-grid sector and its ability to attract impact-driven institutional capital. Our blended finance approach coupled with support from our partners will be fundamental in unlocking the capital needed to bridge the gap for those who do not presently have access to electricity.”

João Cunha, Manager of SEFA, AfDB, says, “We are thrilled to partner with CrossBoundary Access to deliver on our common vision of mini-grids as a bankable asset class. SEFA’s patient capital investment will go a long way towards demonstrating a viable project finance model, attracting more commercial financiers and scaling-up access to renewable electricity in the African continent.”

Gabriel Davies, Managing Director and co-founder of CrossBoundary Access, says, “This is another crucial step for CrossBoundary Access towards unlocking the private and public capital needed to scale the mini-grid sector. We look forward to mobilizing this investment to bring the projects in our pipeline to life and provide power to African homes and businesses through these distributed renewable assets.”

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About CrossBoundary Access: CrossBoundary Access is the first blended finance facility for mini-grids in Africa, which are small solar-storage grids that bring electricity to rural communities. By using blended finance and an innovative project financing structure, CrossBoundary Access unlocks capital for mini-grids with a mission to bring electricity for the first time to more than 1 million people. CrossBoundary Access is a direct investment platform of the CrossBoundary Group. For more information, visit: https://www.crossboundary.com/energy-access/.

18 September 2023: SolarAid is a UK-based, pioneering international charity tackling poverty and climate change by providing access to clean, safe solar lights in underserved rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Through its social enterprise, they are developing innovative enterprise programmes for solar energy distribution to help progress universal energy access.

In recognising the need for urgent action and with a focus on reaching the poorest and most vulnerable with clean and safe energy, Light a Village was first launched in 2021 in an area where 97% of people live in extreme poverty. The aim was to test new models for distributing and maintaining solar lighting in remote, off-grid rural Malawi. The second phase which began in 2023 builds on the success of phase one, greatly increasing the number of homes serviced from 500 to 2500, and proved it was possible to install 1000 solar home systems every 10 days.

High Level SDG Summit is taking place in September and this year extra attention is turned towards SDG7, access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all, as it has been reviewed by the High Level Political Forum (HLPF). Nearly 590 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are currently lacking access to electricity and it is estimated that by 2030, 560 million will still be without electricity. To achieve full access by 2030, 100 million people must be connected each year.

Energy poverty forces millions to use toxic, polluting lighting sources such as kerosene lamps, paraffin candles and grass fire to see after dark. It hinders development, preventing people from working or studying after dark and countless fire related accidents are happening across the continent.

Light a Village applies an game-changing ‘energy as a service model’, meaning customers simply pay the utility provider for the electricity they use which results in instant energy access at an affordable, flexible rate for the lower income communities of sub-Saharan Africa. This approach differs significantly from how energy access issues have been tackled across rural Africa for the last decade, whereby, in order to access basic levels of electricity, customers have had to purchase the systems.

The project which was funded by a combination of generous donations, and matched by the Turner Kirk Trust, has now lit up 2500 homes in the area, and is already recording energy access rates of up to 99% of rural households within focused geographies, as well as high payment and usage rates, exceeding 89%.

John Keane, CEO at SolarAid says, “The clock is ticking and current solutions will not reach the hardest-to-reach within the time limit of 2030 set by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This model demonstrates that it is possible to achieve universal access to energy within a short time frame, even within one of the poorest, most remote, communities in the world.”

Kenedy Buleya, who lives in Tambalasajiwa Village and had his solar home system installed in April 2023 says, “It was like magic. We were all so happy and excited to finally have light in our home. It was a beautiful moment for all of us. I felt so happy and proud to have this opportunity at last.. We spent the whole evening studying and doing homework with my children. It was the first time they have ever been able to do this in our home.”

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About SolarAid: Established in 2006, SolarAid is a UK based, pioneering international charity tackling poverty and climate change by providing access to clean, safe solar lights in underserved rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Through its social enterprise, they are developing innovative enterprise programmes for solar energy distribution to help progress universal energy access. For more information, visit: http://solar-aid.org.

8 September 2023: GreenMax Capital Group, a specialised advisory and clean energy fund management firm, and First City Monument Bank (FCMB), a leading financial institution in Nigeria, have unveiled a loan product designed to support small business owners in acquiring solar refrigeration and other energy-efficient equipment through its Green4Access (G4A) platform. The partnership was unveiled at the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. It aims to assist small business owners in Nigeria looking to reduce their carbon footprint while cutting energy costs. This initiative represents a significant step towards promoting sustainable development in Africa, highlighting the importance of private sector involvement in tackling climate change.

The G4A platform is a tool designed to reduce the risks local financial institutions face when financing energy access projects. With the support of CLASP and the IKEA Foundation, G4A offers a physical Cash Deposit Fund (CDF) that covers up to 20% of the loss incurred across a portfolio of energy access loans. The primary goal of the pilot phase of G4A is to increase the participation of local financial institutions in financing off-grid energy investments. This platform provides a unique opportunity for financial institutions to invest in energy access projects without worrying too much about the risk involved.

GreenMax and FCMB are set to pilot Nigeria’s first G4A-supported loan portfolio. The primary objective of this partnership is to provide financing directly to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria, purchasing solar refrigeration, solar water pumping, and solar generators as an alternative to diesel units. The G4A-backed FCMB loans will eventually be offered to other pre-approved vendors of productive energy-efficient equipment. The partnership will work with the sustainable cooling technology company Koolboks to support the sale of 3,000 solar refrigerators in Nigeria through its G4A CDF placed with FCMB to support these MSMEs. These refrigerators will primarily serve women-owned businesses, enabling them to store their products longer to increase profitability.

G4A has been developed as a closed-end fund worth $50M, utilising at least 18 times that amount in energy access investments. G4A will provide a Cash Deposit Fund to a partner Financial Institution (FI), which will then leverage Five(5) times its value in investment loans. By placing just $50M in risk mitigation facilities with partner FIs over a 12-year fund cycle, we can stimulate almost $1B in investment. G4A is committed to supporting the attainment of SDGs 1, 3, 5, 7, and 8. It is anticipated to result in the installation of a total of 2.03 million off-grid energy systems with a combined capacity of 179 MW. This includes over 830,000 Solar Home Systems, 400 mini-grids that serve 85,600 households, 750,000 agricultural productive use systems, and 4,500 healthcare solar installations.

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About GreenMax: GreenMax Capital Group is a highly specialised advisory and fund management firm devoted solely to advancing the clean energy sector in emerging markets.

About FCMB: First City Monument Bank (FCMB) is a member of the FCMB Group Plc. The Bank is committed to fostering inclusive and sustainable growth within its communities, and it aims to build a supportive ecosystem rooted in Africa, connecting people, capital, and markets.

• Mix of debt and equity investments from investors including EIB, FSD Africa Investments, Jaltech Fund Management and Symbiotics Investments keep plans on track for USD 50m initial close in Q4 2023. Subsequent close of at least USD 100m expected within two years;
• Funding earmarked to help the financing platform scale energy efficiency and captive generation solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa’s commercial and industrial sectors.

6 September 2023: Leading climate and impact fund manager Camco has announced commitments of almost USD 25m in equity and debt funding for Spark Energy Services (Spark), its innovative financing platform supporting energy efficiency and captive solar initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa’s commercial and industrial (C&I) sector.

Equity commitments have come from specialist development agency FSD Africa Investments (FSDAi), Jaltech Fund Management and Camco, which designed and manages Spark, with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Symbiotics Investments being amongst a group of lenders providing junior and senior debt to the platform.

Today’s announcement was made during the inaugural Africa Climate Summit being held in Nairobi this week to drive green growth and climate finance solutions for Africa and the rest of the world.

Spark is responding to this challenge by supporting a just energy transition with localised impacts through the deployment of fully financed on-site renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives among local C&I businesses, with a particular focus on the SME segment. These projects serve to help decarbonise the C&I sector while curbing rising energy expenses and improving the reliability of supply – a critical enabler for green economic development. The platform is doing this by providing its growing network of local project implementation partners with up to 100% upfront financing for the installations and has to date supported eight projects in Kenya and South Africa through an initial USD 3m seed facility.

For investors, Spark provides access to a diversified portfolio of clean energy projects across Africa, offering favourable risk-adjusted returns from a climate-positive investment combined with a strong, transparent and robustly measured ESG and sustainable development impact profile.

Commitments have so far been made for the full equity allocation for Spark’s USD 50m targeted initial close, including USD 3m from UK government-funded FSDAi, USD 2.2m from Jaltech Fund Management and over USD 3m from Camco. EIB is the sole junior lender, having committed USD 10 million in junior debt, with Symbiotics Investments committing USD 5 million in senior debt as part of a senior debt consortium expected to commit up to USD 30m by Q4 2023. Camco is now targeting the close of USD 50m by Q4 2023 and a subsequent close of at least USD 100m within two years.

Adam Fitzwilliam, Director of Spark, said: “With power demand from Sub-Saharan Africa’s C&I sector expected to double between 2020 and 2040, addressing the sector’s emissions growth is a climate imperative. At the same time, the sector is suffering from an expensive, unreliable and polluting power supply that is hampering growth, with limited access to finance meaning very few SMEs have the necessary upfront capital to invest in clean energy solutions.

“Camco designed Spark to respond to these challenges and support green growth on the continent and today’s announcement is a clear demonstration of our investors’ confidence in the platform. We are thrilled to announce a strong set of partners despite a challenging broader investment climate.”

Thomas Östros, European Investment Bank Vice President, said: “Ensuring that African industry and business can accelerate investment to cut energy bills, harness renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions is crucial for delivering climate action in Africa. As highlighted at the African Climate Summit this week, the European Investment Bank is pleased to support Spark’s visionary engagement that mobilises private capital to accelerate business-led climate investment.”

Today’s announcement by UK-headquartered Camco comes after the UK government announced GBP 49m (~USD 62m) worth of new projects to fight climate change in Africa during Africa Climate Summit this week, including through UK-backed FSDAi’s investment in Spark.

Andrew Mitchell, UK Minister for Development and Africa, said: “The climate finance projects we announced demonstrate the strength of our commitment to Africa’s green future. UK leadership is determined to unlock the funding needed internationally to drive forward the green agenda. Our ambitions can only be realised through partnership and cooperation with Africa and the international community. We are stronger together – and we go far when we go together.”

Anne-Marie Chidzero, Chief Investment Officer, FSDAi, said: “This investment, part of a package of investments totalling USD 19.5m which we are announcing this week, shows our determination to invest in solutions that deliver for both people and planet by bridging the gaps in current financing structures and so enabling investment to flow to the parts of the green economy where it is most needed.

“Spark’s innovative financing platform is a great example of this. By addressing the lack of suitable financing for sustainable energy sources for C&I consumers, it will contribute to lower greenhouse gas emissions and improved climate resilience as well as economic growth.”

Thomas Varela, Symbiotics Investments Senior Investment Analyst, Clean Energy, said: “This transaction exemplifies Symbiotics Investments’ approach to clean energy investment, as we thrive to push capital where it usually doesn’t flow. Our funding for Spark will bolster the expansion of local developers, typically SMEs, who often face challenges in accessing the necessary capital to scale their operations. This is particularly pertinent for energy efficiency projects backed by Spark—a segment that continues to be underfunded despite its significant potential for climate mitigation.”

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About Camco: Camco is a specialist climate and impact fund manager, leading the transition in emerging markets. We offer clean, secure investments, pairing the conscience of a development bank with the agility of a private company. Camco is an Accredited Entity of the Green Climate Fund and is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. The company has offices in Accra, Auckland, Helsinki, Johannesburg, London, Nairobi, Sydney and Toronto. For more information, visit: https://www.camco.fm/.

About Spark Energy Services: Spark Energy Services (Spark) is an innovative finance platform created by Camco to support the deployment of captive generation and energy efficiency solutions in Africa’s C&I sector. For more information, visit: https://www.camco.fm/spark.

About European Investment Bank: The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals.

EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm dedicated to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance. EIB Global is designed to foster strong, focused partnership within Team Europe, alongside fellow development finance institutions, and civil society. EIB Global brings the Group closer to local people, companies and institutions through our offices across the world.

About FSD Africa Investments: FSD Africa Investments (FSDAi) is the investment arm of FSD Africa, a UK International Development-funded regional programme, based in Kenya, that operates in over 30 countries to make finance work for Africa’s future. FSDAi invests in novel financial instruments, facilities and intermediaries to support of policy objectives and accelerate the role of finance in Africa’s green economic growth. FSDAi, a private company with shareholders including FSD Africa and the UK’s FCDO, employs diverse investment instruments while embracing considerable risk. FSDAi bridges funding gaps by supporting novel financial solutions for transformative change in Africa’s financial markets to deliver better-quality jobs and economic opportunities, equitable access to basic services, reduction of human vulnerability and inequity, and environmental benefits. For more information, visit: https://fsdafrica.org/our-work/fsdai/.

About Symbiotics Investments: Symbiotics is the leading market access platform for impact investing, dedicated to private markets in emerging and frontier economies. The group offers investment, asset management and capacity building services. Since 2005, Symbiotics Investments has originated over 7,500 investments representing more than USD 9.4 billion for 575 companies in 95 countries. For more information, visit: https://symbioticsgroup.com/.

About Jaltech Fund Management: Founded in 2010, Jaltech is a boutique alternative investment fund manager, managing over ZAR 1.7bn (~USD 90m) of retail investors’ capital. Jaltech’s team is made up of entrepreneurs and financial professionals with a wealth of knowledge and experience in managing alternative investments. For more information, visit: www.jaltech.co.za.

• Regional integration is key for Africa to tap into its abundant renewable energy resources and fulfil development goals.

4 September 2023: The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) signed an agreement today aimed at supporting African countries in their efforts to achieve the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

The agreement was signed today by IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera and AUDA-NEPAD CEO Nardos Bekele-Thomas on the margins of Africa Climate Week in Nairobi.

"Acknowledging that 80% of the global population without access to electricity resides in Sub-Saharan Africa, it is evident that the existing energy infrastructure cannot adequately meet the continent's needs," stated Mr. La Camera. "The creation of a more equitable energy system—one that leverages a diverse mix of Africa’s abundant renewable resources—is dependent upon a more interconnected, flexible and reliable power grid in the region. This partnership serves as a pivotal step towards achieving that objective."

AUDA-NEPAD CEO Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas underscored the findings of the Continental Power Systems Masterplan (CMP), designed to provide a strategic roadmap for connecting Africa’s five power pools, emphasising the critical need for immediate and proactive measures in Africa's electricity sector.

She highlighted that, “the current business as usual trajectory falls significantly short of achieving universal electricity access by 2040, necessitating a substantial increase in investments to elevate the continent's installed capacity from 266GW to approximately 1,218GW. To realise this ambitious target, an estimated USD 1.29 trillion in cumulative investments will be essential, potentially culminating in the establishment of a robust continental electricity market valued at USD 136 billion by 2040. It is imperative to take urgent and strategic actions to accomplish these transformative goals."

The continued investments in cross-border transmission infrastructure and a deepening of electricity trade will allow African countries to accelerate their energy expansion and transition by sourcing electricity from a wide range of competitive, clean energy resources, by anchoring on the continent’s five power pools to create Africa’s Single Electricity Market.

Since 2021, IRENA, in partnership with other organisations, has supported AUDA-NEPAD and African stakeholders in developing the CMP through modelling activities and a series of capacity-building activities related to energy planning in the region. The CMP aims to establish a long-term, continent-wide planning process for power generation and transmission that involves all five African power pools. It maps out how to best to utilise the vast renewable energy resources across the continent, supporting national power strategies that consider cross-border interconnections as a vital component.

The next phase of CMP will include a special focus on strengthening the planning processes and accelerating the preparation of a bankable pipeline of priority projects at both the regional and country levels. This brings an opportunity for African countries to align their energy planning processes to a pan-Africa vision and accelerate the realisation of Agenda 2063.

Through this new partnership, IRENA and AUDA-NEPAD will work to enhance the capabilities of African countries and regional organisations through knowledge-based capacity building services, support implementation of the renewable energy projects in the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA PAP II), and facilitate access for project developers to IRENA’s Climate Investment Platform and Energy Transition Accelerator Financing platform.

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About International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA): IRENA is the lead intergovernmental agency for the global energy transformation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future and serves as the principal platform for international co-operation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy. With 169 Members (168 States and the European Union) and 15 additional countries in the accession process and actively engaged, IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity.

18 August 2023: 600 health clinics across sub-Saharan Africa are able to provide care and treatment to patients outside of daylight hours, thanks to solar-powered lights and off-grid energy systems provided by d.light, the global provider of transformational household products and affordable finance for low-income households and communities in the developing world. As a result, the clinics can extend their operating hours – including for expectant mothers in labour who would otherwise have given birth in darkness.

“Before d.light, we would be looking for torchlight in the middle of the night to deliver babies. We no longer have to go through that stress,” explained Dr Ajayi Olaluwa, Chief Matron at Omatosu Basic Health Centre in the town of Okitipupa in Ondo State, southwest Nigeria.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that close to one billion people in low- and lower-middleincome countries are served by healthcare facilities without reliable electricity access or with no electricity access at all. According to WHO, 15 percent of healthcare facilities lack any access to electricity in subSaharan Africa, whilst only 50 percent of hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa report reliable energy access.

Lack of electricity is a major barrier to the delivery of quality healthcare services, and one that particularly impacts rural communities across the continent. According to Unicef, the lifetime risk of maternal death ranges from 1 in 5,300 in high income countries to 1 in 49 in low-income countries. For example, in Western Europe, the rate is 1 in 11,000. This rate is drastically and fatally higher in the African continent however: in sub-Saharan Africa the rate is 1 in 41, and Sub-Saharan Africa alone accounted for 70 percent of global maternal deaths in 2020.

Ms Olanrewaju Emilia Olanike, Chief Matron at a primary healthcare centre in the Ife South local government area (LGA) of Osun State in Nigeria, described the impact of the solar lanterns on the clinic and its patients, “In the Olode area we have been experiencing a 10-year power outage, so before today we did not have a power supply. The installation of this alternate power supply means that our clients who were afraid of coming to us in the night have now been coming. It makes our job easier especially during labour and delivery cases at night.”

Commenting on the milestone of 600 clinics powered by d.light, d.light co-founder Ned Tozun said, “I remember early on in d.light’s history, a nurse shared with me that she had already delivered 15 babies with d.light’s products. Before, they had been delivering babies using only dangerous kerosene lanterns, or they would even have to turn pregnant women away if they were in labour in the middle of the night.”

“With d.light’s solar-powered products, expectant mothers no longer have to give birth in darkness. Clinic staff can also admit and care for other patients at night more easily when there’s a safe source of light available. Patients find the light of the d.light lantern comforting when they’re being treated.”

“It’s easy to take for granted the ready availability of something as basic as light in developed countries – including in our hospitals and clinics,” Tozun continued, “But for millions of people worldwide, reliable and safe light is still often out of reach. For rural health clinics in Africa and elsewhere in the developing world, access to artificial light can mean the difference between receiving vital care and treatment or not. When you improve the health and wellbeing of pregnant women and their newborn children, you safeguard the next generation and also the families and communities that depend on these women.”

Since d.light was founded in 2007, the company has transformed the lives of 150 million people worldwide. The majority (55.5 percent) of d.light’s customers live in sub-Saharan Africa, including 45 percent in East Africa. Its range of household products include solar-powered lanterns, cookstoves, solar home systems, TVs, radios, and smartphones, together with its low-cost payment plans that allow customers to pay for their products over time.

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About d.light: Founded in 2007 at Stanford in California, d.light is a global leader in making transformative products available and affordable to low-income families. d.light has sold nearly 30 million products, including solar lanterns, solar home systems, TVs, radios, and smartphones, impacting the lives of over 150 million people. Our vision is to transform the lives of one billion people with sustainable products by 2030. For more information, visit: www.dlight.com.

14 August 2023: Solar Frontier Capital Limited (SFC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of African Frontier Capital (Mauritius) LLC (AFC) announced the establishment of a USD 125 million financing vehicle, Brighter Life Tanzania 1 Limited (BLT1).

BLT1 is an off-balance sheet securitization structure that provides the Tanzanian subsidiary of d.light design Inc. (d.light), a leading global innovator of solar-powered transformational products for lowincome families, with flexible working capital, enabling the company to provide consumer financing and make its products universally available and affordable for customers, most of whom live below the poverty line and lack access to reliable power. The facility will finance a range of transformative products that drive quality-of-life improvements, from solar home systems to high-efficiency appliances and smartphones.

BLT1 is a ground-breaking, first-of-its-kind, off-balance-sheet, securitization structure in Tanzania and comes on the heels of d.light celebrating the milestone of transforming the lives of more than 150 million people worldwide with its range of reliable, affordable solar-powered household products.

BLT1 has been structured to provide d.light with local-currency financing (up to the equivalent of USD 125 million in face value of receivables) over a two-year commitment period, giving the company continued access to sustainable and affordable receivable financing for its Tanzanian business.

With AFC’s existing Kenyan securitization structures, Brighter Life Kenya 1 Limited (BLK1) and Brighter Life Kenya 2 Limited (BLK2), this brings the total value of local currency structures financed by AFC to USD 490 million. Together, the structures are expected to directly impact over 7 million lives including over 5 million people with improved access to clean and modern energy who, together, will reduce over 1.2 million metric tons of CO2 emissions ^1.

BLT1 is being partially financed by a USD 30 million senior lending facility provided by Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group). AFC acts as the subordinated lender as well as the master servicer and back-up servicer under the transaction and, more generally, as sponsor of the structure.

Commenting on the announcement:

⎯ d.light CEO Nick Imudia said, “This new financing from TDB gives us the extra funding to reach more low-income families and households in Tanzania via our Pay-Go business, in a way that is affordable for our customers and sustainable for our business.

“d.light and our lending partners are long-time pioneers in developing securitized finance as an innovative, scalable financing model for raising equity for off-grid solar that is guaranteed against current and future customer sales. We’ve successfully used the securitization model for several years in Kenya and now we and our partners are expanding it to Tanzania.

d.light’s Imudia continued, “As a scalable method of financing, securitization is an important fiscal tool to help African countries achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals for energy access. Expect further expansion of this facility by d.light into other major sub-Saharan African markets during 2023.

“d.light’s distribution and after-sales service network serves some of the most remote and hardest to reach areas of Tanzania,” Imudia explained. “We will continue to grow our distribution footprint to enable more communities to benefit from our range of safe, reliable, and affordable solar-powered products.”

⎯ Michael Awori, CEO of TDB, said, “Access to energy is critical to the sustainable development of the continent, especially for the most vulnerable off-grid communities. As one of the leading renewable energy financiers in the region, we are delighted to extend this second facility to d.light, this time in Tanzania. Globally, in 2022 alone the company reached over 1,677,216 people through PAY-GO model, created close to 2,000 jobs, and averted 1,329,371 tons of CO2 and black carbon emissions with solar replacing kerosene lamps. This is the kind of impactful track record TDB is keen to support.”

⎯ Eric De Moudt, founder and CEO of AFC, remarked that, “We are very happy to announce the launch of our latest social impact securitization, BLT1, which further expands our industry leading off-balance sheet securitization structures into new jurisdictions for d.light and brings the total volume of local currency receivables being financed to almost USD500M.

“These social impact securitizations are helping d.light to bring financial inclusion and access to reliable and clean energy to millions of people while simultaneously helping to ensure a just and equitable energy transition that benefits everyone.”

¹ As per standardized GOGLA metrics (https://www.gogla.org/impact/calculator) and AFC estimates.

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About d.light: Founded in 2007 at Stanford in California, d.light is a global leader in making transformative products available and affordable to low-income families. d.light has sold nearly 30 million products, including solar lanterns, solar home systems, TVs, radios, and smartphones, impacting the lives of over 150 million people. Our vision is to transform the lives of one billion people with sustainable products by 2030. For more information, visit: www.dlight.com.

About TDB: Established in 1985, the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB) is a regional development finance institution, with investment grade ratings and assets of USD 8.4bn. TDB serves 25 member states in its region, with the mandate to finance and foster trade, regional economic integration and sustainable development, through trade finance, project and infrastructure finance and asset management.

TDB is part of TDB Group, which also comprises the Trade and Development Fund (TDF), Eastern and Southern African Trade Advisers Limited (ESATAL), TDB Captive Insurance Company (TCI), and the TDB Academy.

About AFC: African Frontier Capital (Mauritius) LLC and its subsidiary companies are a dedicated impact investment group focused on bringing financial inclusion to people living at the bottom of the pyramid in a socially and environmentally sustainable way. For more information, visit: www.africanfrontiercapital.com.