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, African-led micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises could create energy solutions that will yield economic benefits for their communities while not exacerbating climate change impacts. Currently, nearly 80 percent of public financing is directed toward energy projects that do not meet the needs of the poor. With this renewal, Oxfam America will champion large-scale investment by the World Bank Group and African Development Bank for the deployment of clean energy technologies, distributed energy generation, and micro-grids that can help to lift communities out of poverty. To accomplish this goal, the grantee will undertake rigorous analyses of multilateral financial flows, inform ongoing policy debates, develop compelling messages that link energy access to sustainable development priorities, and engage with key international, national, and local civil society organizations.