Bringing clean, affordable, off-grid energy access to millions

At COP27: Public funding to support private sector innovation and scale-up to increase clean energy access

On 10 November 2022, Nefco and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland arranged a side event at COP27 on how to support the development and scale-up of climate solutions and energy access in rural areas. Focus was on developing the agricultural sector and improving food security in Africa. In-sights by representatives from the private sector, Nordic governments and intergovernmental organisations were complemented by local perspectives from Uganda and Zambia.

BGFA welcomes Norway as the latest contributor

It was announced on 10 November at COP27 in Sharm El Sheik that Norway is joining the BGFA programme with EUR 19 million, to support the acceleration of affordable energy access in underserved communities with the focus on supporting the BGFA-selected energy service providers in Burkina Faso, Liberia, Uganda and Zambia. The contribution will support to establish over 400,000 energy service connections by the end of 2027, which will benefit more than 2 million people.

Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa signs its first projects in Uganda

The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) programme has signed its first agreements with off-grid energy service companies in Uganda to support the expansion and scale-up of high-quality solar home systems. ENGIE Energy Access Uganda and d.light Design Uganda will enable the establishment of up to 370,000 high-quality energy service connections and benefit 1.8 million people.

Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa signs a new project in Liberia

The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) programme has signed an agreement with the off-grid energy service company Easy Solar Ltd to support the scale-up of high-quality solar home systems and appliances in the country.With the BGFA funding, Easy Solar will scale up its current business activities in the country using a pay-as-you-go business model, and it plans to establish over 9,000 new energy service subscriptions over a four-year period.

Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa has signed further projects with off-grid energy service companies in Burkina Faso, Liberia and Zambia

We have signed four further agreements with off-grid energy service companies in Burkina Faso, Liberia and Zambia to support the expansion and scale-up of mini-grid connections and sales of high-quality solar home systems. With these projects, the BGFA programme has now contracted ten projects supporting the establishment of over 580,000 off-grid energy connections.

Programme overview

Our new brochure provides an overview of the BGFA programme, country specific targets and funders. The overall programme aim is to establish up to 1.44 million energy connections and benefit more than 6.5 million people by 2028.

The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa received strong interest for its funding round in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The first funding round in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) attracted great interest among private sector companies, i.e. energy service providers in the off-grid sector, active on the market. In total, 40 applications were received, of which 29 passed the initial screening and are now undergoing detailed evaluation. Applicants passing the first stage evaluation will be invited to proceed to a Final Application stage in November 2022. Further information will be made available directly to the applicants through the online application system.

Mini-grids in Mozambique

The second call for proposals (BGFA2) aims to accelerate access to affordable and clean off-grid energy for customers in peri-urban and rural areas of Mozambique. The BGFA2 call closed for Pre-Qualification submissions in spring 2021.

Of the 17 applications received, 10 have passed the initial, internal completeness check and undergone the process of evaluation and scoring of submitted concept notes by independent evaluators. Seven applicants have subsequently passed the Pre-Qualification stage. The aim is to proceed with the Final Application stage in 2022.

Kick-starting markets for clean, off-grid energy in Africa

Building on the experience from an award-winning innovative approach tested in Zambia

BGFA was set-up in 2019 on the initiative of the Swedish Government, building on the successful, award-winning initial pilot phase in Zambia, the Beyond the Grid Fund for Zambia (BGFZ). BGFA is an ambitious multi-donor funding facility that aims to kick-start markets for clean, off-grid energy in Sub-Saharan African countries. It works through a combination of an innovative results-based financing mechanisms for energy companies, close cooperation with governments and real-time data collection and analysis.