Archive - U.S. Agency for International Development

March Newsletter

Speeches Shim

POWER AFRICA: KICKING THE DOOR DOWN FOR ENERGY INVESTMENTS

Allowing private companies to finally enter the Ethiopian energy sector was not the work of one U.S. agency, but 12 different agencies -- and multiple partners -- that are working together as one team to advance President Obama’s Power Africa initiative. Read More

AfDB REAFFIRMS ITS SUPPORT FOR POWER AFRICA

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is an anchor partner of the Power Africa Initiative. The AfDB is a multilateral development bank whose stakeholders include the 54 African countries and 27 non-African countries. Its primary objective is to contribute to the sustainable economic development and social progress of its regional members. Read more

HOW PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS ARE TURNING THE POWER AFRICA VISION INTO REALITY

"We hope to go from 5,000 units now to 10,000 units by the end of next year," says Michael Wanyonyi, CEO of Mibawa Suppliers about his 'rent to own' solar scheme which gives Kenyan villagers a cheaper, safer and more regular power supply. Whether it is kick starting local off-grid energy projects in Kenya and Nigeria through to involvement in larger scale initiatives across the region, GE's involvement in the Power Africa initiative is very much underway. Read more

MY PERSONAL JOURNEY AS AN ETHIOPIAN AMERICAN WORKING FOR POWER AFRICA

My grandmother spent her whole life in southern Ethiopia and passed away a few years ago without ever having switched on an electric light. I also spent much of my early life in Africa, where I saw first-hand the obstacles faced by a society without ready access to electricity. So in the summer of 2013, when President Obama announced the launch of the Power Africa initiative, I knew a rare opportunity and important responsibility had come my way. For starters, it was clear the Overseas Private Investment Corporation would play a crucial role in supporting the private sector investment needed to significantly increase Africans' access to power. Read more

POWERING AFRICA AND REDUCING POVERTY: CONTRIBUTIONS FROM M.C.C.

Many of the Millennium Challenge Corporation's partner countries recognize the strong link between accessing power and reducing poverty. Whether it's connecting schools in communities that were previously off the grid in central Tanzania, generating a reliable power supply for Zanzibar, reaching rural communities in Ghana, or deepening the capacity of Malawi's power sector to sustainably provide electricity to customers, MCC is using power projects in Africa to help people pull themselves out of poverty. Read more

POWERING AFRICA: A CONVERSATION ABOUT PROGRESS AND PROSPECTS

An intragovernmental discussion on Power Africa's Progress and Prospects. Panelists examine what has happened in the months since the President's announcement of the Power Africa initiative and discuss the outlook for legislation, as well as short and medium-term plans for implementation by the administration. View

PHOTO GALLERY

View the Power Africa Photo Gallery. Click here

Notable Transactions

Aeolous 60 MW Wind Park, Kenya:
This is the largest privately owned wind park in Sub-Saharan Africa (outside of South Africa).

Corbetti Geothermal 1,000 MW Project, Ethiopia:
This is the first privately owned generation project in Ethiopia which will provide 1,000 MW of clean geothermal energy when completed.

Cummins 12 MW Biomass Project, Kenya:
Power Africa helped Cummins, a small-scale American biomass energy developer, finalize its agreement with Kenya Power for electricity production. View More