Yemisi Izuora
Following sustainable investment through the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA), over 4.3 million people in Africa now have access to electricity.
The BGFA said companies supported under the initiative have delivered more than 845,800 electricity connections since launch, including about 235,000 during the past year alone.
The BGFA operates a results-based financing model across six African countries and mainly supports solar home systems, battery leasing services, and energy solutions for productive activities. The program said it has disbursed about €26 million and supported nearly 7,500 African businesses.
By the end of 2025, BGFA estimates it had achieved about 45 per cent of its overall target. The initiative now aims to reach 1.9 million connections and more than 9.6 million beneficiaries by 2028.
According to the fund, Zambia and Uganda recorded the strongest progress in terms of completed connections. Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo posted major advances, notably through the commissioning of the first privately operated renewable energy mini-grids.
The program added that security conditions continue to complicate operations for several companies in Burkina Faso and the DRC.
BGFA officials say the initiative has demonstrated that competitive results-based financing can work even in difficult environments. The program combines performance-based subsidies with strict sustainability requirements to expand energy access while preserving long-term market viability.
According to the World Bank, about 600 million people in Africa still lack access to electricity, particularly in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa.
In these markets, often considered riskier and less profitable, many off-grid electrification companies continue to face limited access to financing.
Against this backdrop, results-based financing mechanisms such as BGFA are gaining importance.
Other initiatives, including Mission 300 and ASCENT, also aim to accelerate electrification efforts across the continent.