The single most important precondition for a country’s success is access to electricity. In a knowledge economy access to electricity – even a simple solar charger – is the foundation for everything; a game-changer.
Power Africa was launched in 2013 by the US Government, to help expand access to electricity across the continent. Working with the world’s top companies, political leaders and financial institutions, the initiative aims to add 30,000 Megawatts of cleaner power generation across sub-Saharan Africa, and increase electricity access by adding 60 million new connections.
Without this kind of access small businesses cannot grow, children struggle to do their homework at night, and health care centres are extremely limited in their ability to operate. That's why we are supporting the large-scale Power Africa initiative.
The Power Africa model is based on a transactions approach to power sector development. This focusses on supporting “first-of-their-kind” projects so that future transactions within countries can move ahead without external assistance. Under this approach, private sector companies play a leading role in bringing innovative solutions and capital to meet the growing demand for power across sub-Saharan Africa. Partner governments strengthen the enabling environment and investment climate, by effective leadership and sector governance, while ensuring better planning, procurement and regulation.

Renewable energy sources are playing an important role in the expansion of electricity access in Africa.