Aggregated procurement for Nigerian mini-grid developers delivers 40% cost savings

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A new research paper demonstrates how aggregated procurement presents enormous opportunity to facilitate access to distributed renewable energy (DRE) technology by improving supply chains within the sector and increasing cost-effectiveness for distributed energy projects. The research presents findings from a pilot programme testing aggregated procurement mechanisms for mini-grid developers in Nigeria. Download the full report…

New MOU with FMO addresses finance continuum needed for clean energy transition

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Shell Foundation and Dutch development bank FMO have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support the just and inclusive energy transition in sub-Saharan Africa and India. The MOU builds on a previous agreement that concluded in 2019, as well as collaborations and co-investments in companies and financial intermediaries such as the Energy and Entrepreneurs…

The holistic impact on low-income communities of battery-as-a-service in rural Tanzania

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A new report examines the impact of Jaza Energy and the battery-as-a-service model on Jaza Hub Operators (“Jaza Stars”) as well as current, former and potential Jaza Customers. The report, conducted by the Busara Center for Behavioral Economics and co-funded by Shell Foundation and the UK government, presents the results of research conducted in the…

DFC invests US$40 million in Energy Entrepreneurs Growth Fund

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The Energy Entrepreneurs Growth Fund offers financing and assistance to companies that increase access to energy in sub-Saharan Africa Today, 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lack access to energy The fund expects to provide patient, flexible capital to over 25 companies, with a fund life of twelve years DFC’s investment brings total commitments to…

New Gender report shows inclusion aligned with improved business performance

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In 2018, we published A Business-First Approach to Gender Inclusion, which presented the opportunity that holistic gender inclusion represented for small businesses and investors operating in the clean energy sector. The report showed clear business performance improvements when a gender-lens is applied to areas including sales, marketing, market research, customer service and hiring. Four years…

Evaluating the impact of pay-as-you-go LPG on Kenyan lives 

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PayGo Energy provides a pay-as-you-go LPG service to low-income customers in Kenya, the DRC and the Philippines.  Co-funded by UK aid from the UK Government and in partnership with portfolio partner PayGo Energy, The Busara Centre conducted research examining the impact of PayGo energy on its customers in Kenya.  Adopting a mixed method approach, the…

African venture capital: barriers and solutions to address imbalances

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Interest in harnessing business potential in Africa is growing year-on-year. The total amount of venture capital (VC) investment on the continent grew to between US$4.3 billion and US$5 billion in 2021, a 16-fold increase from 2017. However, the distribution of the funding is uneven. The landscape of start-ups successfully accessing funding is dominated by non-African…

Growing prosperity and building climate resilience for small-scale farmers

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In Sub-Saharan Africa, small-scale farmers make up about 60 percent of the population and about 23 percent of Sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP comes from agriculture. Small-scale farmers are at the heart of African agriculture and face many challenges: access to credit for farm inputs and market access for their produce being chief among them. In 2022,…

How Lithium batteries can help address Africa’s access to power deficit 

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Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the lowest energy access rates in the world, leaving roughly 600 million people without power.  SF partner Aceleron – co-funded with UK aid from the UK government and supported by Tripleline – has produced a report showing how lithium battery technology can play a critical role in reducing this deficit and…

The business potential in going beyond cooling as a service

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Four new impact case studies from Inficold highlight how various cold chain products can deliver higher incomes for farmers and agribusinesses across several value chains.   Agriculture in the Indian Context   We have supported Inficold since 2016, as part of our CASEE programme with the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), to develop its…