Universal Green Energy Access Programme (UGEAP)

Contributing to universal access to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa by scaling up investments in renewable energy from local financial markets and the international private sector.

This programme is an investment fund that will reduce GHG emissions by increasing access to clean electrical energy for mainly rural populations in Sub-Saharan Africa. It aims to provide financing for decentralized energy service companies for off‑grid and mini-grid systems for rural households and communities and renewable energy for industrial players.

Fossil fuel based energy production will be replaced with renewable, clean energy solutions that can meet increasing energy demand. Investments will target three types of projects. Off-grid renewable electricity energy in the form of solar home systems will be provided via an affordable payment plan. Green mini-grid projects will also be supported via companies that install, operate and maintain photovoltaic based mini-grids to sell energy services in rural communities. Finally, industrial renewable electrical energy and selected on-grid installations will be targeted, by investing in companies that provide modular, transportable, and often rented photovoltaic farms, offering SMEs and communities competitively-priced solar power. Around 50 investments will be made, totalling a volume of USD 500M over the course of five years, and via two phases.

At a later stage, the programme will work with local financial institutions to enable banks to provide long-term loans to businesses that provide clean electricity solutions. A public-private partnership instrument will leverage at least two-fold the impact of public capital through private investment.

The project has an estimated lifespan of 15 years.