The 50-billion-dollar promise: A new dawn for universal energy access?
Recent months have witnessed promising developments in the global effort to expand energy access in emerging economies, with initiatives like Mission300 and the EU’s Global Gateway offering renewed hope for renewable electrification across Africa, and beyond.
The Mission300 initiative has galvanised unprecedented political will, with more than 30 heads of state committing to expand energy access through the Dar es Salaam Declaration. This political momentum was matched by substantial financial backing, with over 50 billion USD pledged at the summit.
Similarly, the EU’s Global Gateway presents promising avenues to tackle pressing global challenges, from climate change to health systems improvement and supply chain security. The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) has positioned itself as the champion for distributed renewables through its engagement in the Global Gateway Business Advisory Group, offering direct advice to EU institutions.
Both initiatives emphasise a balanced approach, recognising the importance of both grid improvement and distributed renewable energy (DRE) to boost sustainable energy access in emerging economies. These joint efforts aim to power households, support productive energy uses, drive clean industrial development, and strengthen weak grids.
With over 200 members and an extensive partner network, ARE stands ready to address all these market segments and accelerate electrification across developing regions. While grid reinforcement in Africa remains important, DRE must be prioritised as the fastest, cleanest and most cost-efficient solution for most new energy access connections on the continent. Recognising the immense potential of this industry is the first step towards accelerating its growth and maximising its impact.
Off-Grid Europe
The recent Energy Access Investment Forum (EAIF 2025) brought together more than 500 on-site participants from industry, investment and government sectors to forge partnerships that translate commitments into action, bolstered by the GET.invest matchmaking. The forum highlighted that scaling up patient equity and smart grants is essential to accelerate both the volume and pace of investment deployment. The discussions underlined that Loans and guarantees should be designed to enable broader market participation and ensure that mobilised funds reach projects and companies where they are most needed. Tailored blended finance instruments help to bundle and de-risk electrification project portfolios, making them more attractive to private investors.
EAIF 2025
The three-day EAIF 2025 programme featured a dynamic lineup of high-impact sessions, showcasing critical initiatives programmes as well as project and product launches. Highlights included the launch of the DRE Impact Stories, illustrating projects backed by EUR 155 million from EU Development Finance Institutions as good examples of derisked project portfolios. The forum also saw the unveiling of the Advancing gender equality in the renewable energy sector paper, developed by ARE in collaboration with Schneider Electric; the introduction of a joint ESG Guidance initiative, led by AfDB, IFC, and ARE; and the launch of a new publication on the Productive Use of Renewable Energy in Benin, Cameroon, Madagascar, a joint study by ARE and ADEME.
In a strategic move to support the Powering Industries campaign, ARE also signed a MoU with GSMA to accelerate the deployment of DRE for C&I use. In conjunction with the Forum, ARE also organised an Investment Academy for companies from Lesotho and East Africa, supported by GET.invest.
On top of all these activities, ARE has significantly expanded its presence in key markets with regional ARE experts based across Africa and Asia. Whether you represent a company, government, international funding partner or philanthropy, ARE stands ready to engage with stakeholders to advance the shared mission of promoting DRE solutions. With new promotions and time-bound deals in place, it is the perfect time to become an ARE Member.
