CAPE TOWN, South Africa — The United Nations Development Programme and the Africa Minigrid Developers Association have officially partnered to expedite the deployment of sustainable minigrids across Africa.
A memorandum of understanding was signed June 19 during the Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town.
This collaboration will support the Africa Minigrid Program, a $50 million technical assistance initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility. The program, implemented with RMI and the African Development Bank, aims to boost investment in solar-battery minigrids and expand energy access in underserved communities.
UNDP and AMDA will focus on five key areas: technical assistance, capacity building, data and digital innovation, policy advocacy and resource mobilization. The partnership combines UNDP’s global reach and policy expertise with AMDA’s technical knowledge and private sector network to scale minigrid solutions and improve conditions for developers and governments.
“Minigrids are among the most practical and cost-effective solutions for rural electrification in Africa,” said Mateo Salomon, head of climate change mitigation at UNDP. “This partnership with AMDA helps us bridge the gap between ambition and bankability, aligning the development community, government and private sector to turn potential into reality.”
Olamide Niyi-Afuye, CEO of AMDA, said, “AMDA is pleased to formalize this collaboration with UNDP. This MoU underscores our shared commitment to scaling minigrid deployment through data-driven policy advocacy, catalytic financing and capacity building. By aligning our strengths, we aim to create a more enabling ecosystem for minigrid developers and and accelerate progress toward universal energy access in Africa.”
This agreement is a significant step toward unlocking the potential of minigrids to drive inclusive and resilient development across the continent.
The third edition of AMDA’s Benchmarking Africa’s Minigrids report indicates that the African minigrid market is growing, increasing electrification rates and creating jobs.
However, the report also highlights that regulatory issues, funding challenges and supply chain problems are impeding development and raising costs.
The report urges governments, investors and industry stakeholders to intensify efforts to scale minigrids for Africa’s energy future using data-driven insights.
