FP211
Hardest-to-Reach
Hardest-to-Reach
560 million people in the sub-Saharan region live without electricity and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future without adequate intervention. Investment barriers such as risky and nascent market, hard-to-reach locality, and lack of supporting infrastructure keep traditional off-grid solar companies from investing in projects that could benefit hard-to-reach communities. The unelectrified communities of these countries risk being trapped in energy poverty and climate vulnerability. Delivering clean, affordable, and climate-resilient energy to these vulnerable communities will be a crucial component of climate action not only in the sub-Saharan region, but for the African continent.
The H2R programme aims to provide affordable and green energy access to first-time users in low-income populations in 16 countries in Africa. The programme will support off-grid solar companies to enter and grow in these underserved markets by providing flexible financing that matches the needs of the companies. The programme seeks to mobilise a blend of donor and private finance to deliver off-grid solar solutions to least developed communities via pay-as-you-go financing methods. The goal is to close a historically persistent energy gap in sub-Saharan countries, thereby contributing to a more just and inclusive energy systems transition.
Technical assistance through the GCF Project Preparation Facility (PPF) was deployed to support the Accredited Entity in the development of this project's funding proposal (FP).
Project timeline
Pipeline
22 May 2022 - 418 days
Concept note received
22 May 2022
Funding proposal received
09 Jan 2023
Cleared by GCF Secretariat
20 Apr 2023
Cleared by iTAP
19 Jun 2023
Approved
13 Jul 2023 - 494 days so far
Approved by GCF Board
13 Jul 2023
Legal opinion on AE's Internal Approval
10 Oct 2023
FAA executed
04 Dec 2023
Under implementation
To be completed
One region
- Africa
Sixteen countries
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Chad
- Democratic Republic of the Congo (the)
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Niger (the)
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Togo
- Uganda
- Zambia
Three priority groups
- Least Developed Countries
- Small Island Developing States
- African States
-
Financing
- Private sector
- Public sector
-
Size
- Micro
- Small
- Medium
- Large
GCF financing
| Instrument | Amount |
|---|---|
| Grant | USD 10,000,000 |
| Grant | USD 5,000,000 |
| Equity | USD 50,000,000 |
| Total GCF Financing |
|---|
| USD 65,000,000 |
Co-financing
| Co-financer | Instrument | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Co-Financing | Grant | USD 40,000,000 |
| Co-Financing | Grant | USD 15,000,000 |
| Co-Financing | Equity | USD 10,000,000 |
| Co-Financing | Equity | USD 60,000,000 |
| Co-Financing | Equity | USD 60,000,000 |
| Total Co-Financing |
|---|
| USD 185,000,000 |
GCF Contacts
General media inquiries
GCF CommunicationsSend e-mail
Request for information
GCF Information DisclosureRequest information about this project
Project complaints and grievances
GCF Independent Redress Mechanism (IRM)Phone +82 32 458 6186 (KST)
File a complaint
Integrity issues
GCF Independent Integrity Unity (IIU)Phone +82 32 458 6714 (KST)
Send e-mail
Entity
Acumen Fund, Inc.
ESG Insights Manager
40 Worth Street, Suite 303, New York, United States
More contacts
National Designated Authority
Ministry of Living Environment and Sustainable Development
Director General, Division of Climate Change
01 BP 3502 - 01 BP 3621, Cotonou, Benin
01 BP 3502 - 01 BP 3621, Cotonou, Benin
Prime Ministry
Policy Officer
Policy Officer
Ministry of Environment, Agriculture, and Livestock
Director General of Land Use Planning, Irrigation and Land Protection
Ministry of the Environment, Fisheries and Sustainable Development
Expert Environmentaliste
Avenue Idriss Miskine, N’djamena, Chad
National Coordination of the Green Climate Fund
National Coordinator and GCF Focal Point for the Democratric Republic of the Congo
The National Directorate of the Environment
Executive Secretary of the National Designated Authority of the Green Climate Fund
Coléah Lansébounyi, Commune de Matam, Conakry, Guinea
Substitute
Coléah Lansébounyi- Commune de Matam, Conakry, Guinea
Ministry of the Environment, Biodiversity and Climate Action
Director General of the National Environment Institute
Avenida Joao Bernardo Vieira, Palacio do Governo, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
Ministry of Energy and Meteorology
Director (a.i.) Lesotho Meteorological Services
Deputy Principal Secretary
Ministry of Energy and Meteorology Private Bag A91, Maseru, Lesotho
Environmental Affairs Department
Director
Environmental Affairs Department Private Bag 394 Lilongwe 3, Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
Ministry of Economy and Finance – National Directorate for Monitoring and Evaluation
Deputy National Director of Monitoring and Evaluation
National Council of the Environment for Sustainable Development (CNEDD)
Executive Secretary
Cabinet du Premier Ministre, PL 17 Rue du Gouverneur Jules Brévié, BP 10193, Niamey, Niger, Niamey, Niger (the)
Environment Protection Agency
Executive Chairman
92 Dundas Street, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Chief Director
92 Dundas Street, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
Minister
Villa Somalia, Mogadishu, Somalia
Senior Technical Advisor
Directorate of Environment, Ministry of Environment
Director of Environment
240 rue des Nîmes Lomé - Togo -, Lomé, Togo
Environmentalist, head of planning unit
240 rue des Nîmes Lomé - Togo, Lomé, Togo
Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development
Permanent Secretary / Secretary to the Treasury
Ag. Director Debt and Cash Policy
Ag. Commissioner, Development Assistance and Regional Cooperation Department
Head, Climate Finance Unit
Ministry of Green Economy and Environment
National Coordinator
Environmental Specialist Readiness Support
Documents
| Title | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Hardest-to-Reach | Approved funding proposal | 03 Aug 2023 |
| Gender assessment for FP211: Hardest-to-Reach | Gender assessment | 13 Jul 2023 |
| Gender action plan for FP211: Hardest-to-Reach | Gender action plan | 13 Jul 2023 |
| Environmental and social safeguards (ESS) report for FP211: Hardest-to-Reach | Environmental and Social Safeguards report | 07 Jun 2023 |