NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

By Grace Ashiru

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has committed up to $25 million to Acumen’s Hardest-to-Reach (H2R) Fund, a $200 million initiative designed to enhance energy access in underserved regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. This investment by the IFC, directed towards the senior tranche of the fund, aligns with its broader strategy of promoting sustainable development in areas facing significant energy shortages. The H2R Fund, which targets the electrification of 72 million people over the next ten years and aims to prevent the release of 5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, is structured into three equity tranches—senior, mezzanine, and junior—each worth $60 million. In addition, the fund includes a $20 million grant facility.