Clean Energy and Energy Inclusion for Africa

Clean Energy and Energy Inclusion for Africa (CEI Africa) aims to support the delivery of climate-friendly electricity for people and businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Foundation was established by KfW on behalf of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. In 2022 the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) joined as Contributor to CEI Africa. CEI Africa provides Results-Based and Outcomes-Based grants and co-invests with crowdlenders in the off-grid and green mini-grid companies, combined with technical assistance.

In December 2021, the Foundation management was awarded to a consortium consisting of Triple Jump as Foundation Manager, Persistent as Crowdlending window lead, and GreenMax Capital Group as Smart Outcomes Fund (SOF) window lead.

Starting year

2021

Type of investment

Debt, equity, grants, Technical Assistance

Development theme

Access to Clean Energy

Main investors and partners

SDGs

Geography

Sub-Saharan Africa

Meet one of our Investees for this Fund

Closing the financing gap

In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, it is estimated that over 500 million people lack access to electricity. In order to reach access to energy targets by 2030, considerable investments are needed both to expand electrification grids and extend the reach of off-grid solutions. Companies in the off-grid and mini-grid spaces face a unique set of challenges when it comes to reaching their full potential contributions to SDG7. Fortunately, the past 10 years have taught us valuable lessons about how to support these two sectors with flexible, risk-tolerant capital paired with other targeted activities designed not only to help companies succeed but to effect positive change in the whole ecosystem. 

  • CEI Africa is leveraging its donors’ capital into generating faster growth in the access to energy space in Africa via: Smart Outcomes Fund window (grants and forgivable loan). Targeted at Green Mini Grid developers and off-grid enterprises deploying Productive Use of Energy (PUE) equipment. 
  • Crowdlending window (co-investing – debt and equity – with Crowdlenders): targeted at  Green Mini Grid developers and other off-grid solar companies (SHS, pico PV, productive use). 

CEI Africa is the One-Stop-Shop for GMG developers to access grants, financing instruments and technical assistance under a single umbrella. 

The Foundation’s approach to ESG and Impact management 

Triple Jump has a sound expertise in developing and implementing impact management frameworks and is a signatory of the Operating Principles for Impact Management (OPIM), we go beyond impact measurement to make sure impact considerations are integrated throughout the entire investment process. CEI Africa is no different. 

The Foundation is expected to contribute to SDGs 5, 7, 8, 13 and 17 by supporting economic growth and employment in off-grid communities, increased access to energy, avoiding GHG emissions, and improved gender equality. 

> Explore the CEI Africa website 

Invest for Impact