1 billionWith no electricity
1 billion people around the world live without electricity – 600 million are in Africa.
3 billionRelying on biomass
3 billion people – 41% of the world’s population – use polluting fuels, like wood and coal, for cooking and heating.
4 millionPremature deaths
Each year, 4 million people die prematurely from burning polluting fuels in inefficient stoves in poorly ventilated spaces.
Energy access changes everything
We develop markets to close the energy gap
We offer
Focus on energy access markets
Strong networks with companies, financial institutions and other market actors
Excellent understanding of both entrepreneurs' and investors' perspective
Support for innovative, pioneering business models
Strong presence in 'the last mile'
Expertise in gender-sensitive and inclusive market development
Low-cost delivery-focused structure
Our services include
Our approach has provided access to 18 million people
- 8,100 businesses supported
- 15,400 jobs created
- 13.4 million tonnes of CO2 avoided
- $160 million raised to support businesses
Latest news
Improved cookstoves set to boost health and livelihoods for vulnerable...
The long-standing reliance on traditional cookstoves and open fires comes with severe drawbacks such as pollution, health hazards, and fuel inefficiency. In order to address such dependence, the...
Getting back to business: new emergency fund brings Covid-19 lockdown...
Hundreds of women entrepreneurs in Senegal who have suffered devastating loss in business as a result of the pandemic are beginning to regain their livelihoods thanks to a new emergency fund set up...
Energy Cash Plus initiative ‘Mwangaza Mashinani’ scaled-up to benefit more...
With the recently announced extension of the Energy Cash Plus Initiative, thousands more vulnerable households in Kenya are set to benefit from access to clean energy (the programme is also known...
WATCH: HELPING COMPANIES DELIVER RENEWABLE ENERGY IN AFRICA
See the impact that access to clean affordable energy has on the lives of millions of people.
Annual review
Read our 2020 Annual Review, showing the breadth of our activities to expand energy access and help solve some of Africa's most pressing development challenges.