Shifting the Narrative: Addressing Africa's Energy Poverty Challenge

About this grant

Nearly one in five people globally lack access to electricity, and this is a major development challenge facing the world’s poor, particularly in Africa. If the right policies, financing, and incentives are in place, micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises based in Africa could create energy solutions that will yield economic benefits for African communities while not exacerbating climate change impacts. Through this grant, Oxfam America has created a new analysis illustrating that addressing the energy challenges facing the poor in rural Africa will also provide the economic opportunities to address their poverty. The grantee will use this new analytical framework over the next grant period to influence U.S. investment in Africa’s energy sector to ensure that small-scale renewable energy is prioritized.