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Aligning Capital with Justice: How Innovative Finance Can Enable the Final Stretch Toward Energy Access in Africa
The world has made unprecedented progress toward universal energy access, and today over 90% of the global population has electricity. But as Roeland Menger at Nithio explains, the remaining 10% live in rural and low-income communities — primarily in Africa — that typical business and funding models can't reach. He argues that the exclusion of these markets is not only ineffective but unjust, and highlights several innovative investment approaches that are expanding decentralized energy to the last mile.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Investing
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New Coalition Formed to Power Food Systems with Clean Energy
A newly established multi-stakeholder alliance — the Agri-Energy Coalition — is launching to address critical challenges at the intersection of agriculture and energy in low to middle-income countries.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy
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The Circular Solar Opportunity in Africa: How Refurbishing Solar Systems Can Reduce E-Waste and Expand Energy Access
While working in the bustling solar energy scene in Ethiopia, Zelalem Nigatu at Inter Ethiopia Solutions noticed a disheartening trend: Mountains of solar home systems were being discarded due to minor issues that could have been fixed by trained technicians with access to spare parts and the proper tools. He explores how Inter Ethiopia Solutions is tackling this challenge through a systematic approach to refurbishing solar home systems and repurposing lithium-ion batteries, enabling it to offer affordable off-grid energy solutions while reducing e-waste.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Technology
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Private Sector Developers Sign Funding Agreement to Fast-Track Rural Electrification in Zambia
This round of funding will stimulate and incentivize end-use demand for energy supplied by 43 existing and new mini-grids across Zambia, bringing reliable and affordable energy to underserved areas.
- Categories
- Energy, Investing, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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CLASP and GEAPP Expand Access to Affordable, Energy-efficient Appliances in Africa
CLASP and GEAPP scale up their innovative financing program to support more African businesses and farmers with affordable, energy-efficient appliances.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Four Key Lessons for Implementing PAYGo 2.0: How the PAYGo Solar Sector Can Fulfill its Potential
In response to the recent NextBillion article by Dan Murphy and Willem Nolens at PAYGo Lab, on how companies and investors can move PAYGo solar toward "PAYGo 2.0,” Yariv Cohen at Ignite Energy Access argues that it's time for deep reflection and realignment in the industry. He explains why PAYGo 2.0 — an approach aimed at boosting repayment rates and profitability through improved customer selection and support — is the only way forward for the sector, and shares four lessons Ignite has learned from its efforts to implement this model.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Finance, Investing
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The PURE Growth Fund Opens Call for Proposals for Clean Energy and Agribusinesses in Tanzania
The Pure Growth Fund is a transformative initiative to accelerate the Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PURE) within Tanzania's agri-food systems and unlock low-emission development pathways for the country.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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New Report Highlights How the Energy and Agriculture Sectors Working Together Will Enhance Food Security Across Africa
The report Beyond Silos: Strengthening Nexus Collaboration to Power Food Systems with Off-Grid Solar addresses the intertwined nature of energy use, efficiency, sustainability, and productivity of food systems in Africa.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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