Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa

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

What is the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa?

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

An award-winning innovative approach

Funded by the Swedish Government and based on a highly successful, award-winning first phase in Zambia, the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa is an ambitious multi-year programme that aims to kick-start markets for clean, off-grid energy in African countries. It works through a combination of an innovative results-based financing mechanism for companies, close cooperation with governments and real-time data collection and analysis.

Following its success in Zambia, Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa will expand into Burkina Faso, Liberia, and Mozambique, and open a second financing round in Zambia. Calls for Proposals will be launched this September, inviting interested off-grid energy service providers to compete for a number of funding windows.

Find Out More

We would like to engage with…

Are you in the renewable energy business?

If you are interested in exploring new markets or scaling up your off-grid renewable energy business in Burkina Faso, Liberia, Mozambique or Zambia, get in touch.

You can help us shape the BGFA programme and its funding rounds based on your valuable insights and knowledge of the markets. The next funding rounds are planned for September 2020, and once these are launched, you will be able to submit a bid for funding and help us bring clean, affordable, off-grid energy access to millions.

Are you shaping energy policies in your country?

We are keen to work together with policy makers in and beyond the BGFA focus countries of Burkina Faso, Liberia, Mozambique and Zambia.

Please get in touch and help us shape the programme and its funding rounds based on your valuable insights and knowledge of the markets. If BGFA is not yet looking at your country but you think the programme would be a good fit, please also get in touch.

BGFA Countries

“BGFZ has been game-changing for us, and it has been game-changing for Zambia.”

John Foye
Managing Director, Fenix Zambia

Find out about the impacts of our pilot phase, the Beyond the Grid Fund for Zambia.

Impact

We are proud to work with these companies in Zambia:

Who’s involved?

The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa is managed by a team that spans Sida, NEFCO and REEEP and also includes a number of in-country consultants.

Find out more about who’s involved with BGFA

Team

Funder:

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency

The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa funded by Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) with initial contributions from four Swedish Embassies in Africa. With an initial funding target of EUR 48 million (SEK 500 million), BGFA has been planned to build on the success of the pilot phase Beyond the Grid Fund for Zambia, which was initiated and co-designed by Sida. The new programme aims to expand its activities to Burkina Faso, Liberia and Mozambique, and launching a second funding round in Zambia.

Visit the Sida website

Facility Manager:

Nordic Environment Finance Corporation

As Facility Manager, the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) has set up the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa on behalf of Sida and is responsible for its overall implementation. NEFCO is an international financial institution (IFI) with almost 30 years of experience in financing 100% green sustainable development projects. NEFCO is owned by the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Besides making its own investments, NEFCO manages a considerable number of trust funds. NEFCO’s trust fund processes fulfil EU requirements, and NEFCO is accredited by the Green Climate Fund. NEFCO is currently working with a number of like-minded possible donors with the aim of converting BGFA into a multi-donor programme.

Visit the NEFCO website

Implementation Manager:

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership

The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) is an international non-profit organization that works to kick-start markets for clean energy and energy efficiency solutions in low- and middle-income countries. REEEP co-designed and implemented the Beyond the Grid Fund for Zambia and is Implementation Manager of the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa.

Visit the REEEP website

Latest news

‘Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa’ expands to Uganda

News | 06 May , 2020

The Embassy of Sweden, Kampala, Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) and the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) are pleased to announce the expansion of the Beyond the Grid ...

Sweden Announces Go-Ahead for Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa in Four Countries

News | 28 April , 2020

Stockholm, 28 April 2020. At the first Steering Committee meeting of the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA), Sweden today gave the green light to expand the programme into ...

Beyond the Numbers – the Impact of Beyond the Grid for Zambia

News | 18 February , 2020

Zambia is home to a highly dispersed population, with more than 60% of people living under the poverty line, and some 70% of whom have no access to modern energy. ...

Shedding light on development in Zambia

News | 22 January , 2020

“There is goodness here now.” Godfrey Miti, a resident of Ngwerere, on the outskirts of Zambia’s capital Lusaka, is optimistic about the future. He is standing under a lamp outside ...

Trial, error, innovation and impact – a story of context-driven, clean energy solutions for Zambia

News | 15 January , 2020

With a mission to end the use of charcoal for cooking, an innovative approach from Emerging Cooking Solutions (ECS) hoped to diminish the number of air pollution-related deaths and to ...

Global Off-Grid Solar Forum and Expo in Nairobi, Kenya

Event | 08 January , 2020

Ash Sharma, Head of BGFA at NEFCO, will speak at the premier meeting of the off-grid solar sector in Nairobi from the 18th - 20th of February, 2020. This conference ...

Come see us at COP25

Event | 04 December , 2019

Join us for four events at COP25 in Madrid, on 9 and 10 December 2019, to celebrate Beyond the Grid Fund for Zambia winning a UN Global Climate Action Award, ...

More news and events from the BGFA

News & Events

Contact us

Please get in touch with the team at Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa with any enquiries you have regarding the programme and find out more about getting involved.