AFD and Watt For Change finance three energy projects in Africa

The Watt For Change Foundation and the French Development Agency are joining forces to support three initiatives aimed at improving access to renewable energy in Benin, Mauritania, and Madagascar. A €860,000 three-year partnership dedicated to assisting local associations.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

On February 10, 2025, the Watt For Change Foundation and the French Development Agency (AFD) signed a partnership agreement to fund initiatives that improve access to renewable energy in three African countries. This three-year program, named SCALE UP, allocates a budget of €860,000 to support local associations in implementing energy solutions tailored to the needs of rural populations.

A structured and targeted financing approach

The SCALE UP program is based on financial and technical support for the three selected associations. Each organization will receive €150,000 over three years, along with technical assistance to strengthen their skills in impact measurement, reporting, and fundraising.

The AQAFI association, active in Mauritania, plans to install solar-powered pumps to supply water to 45 hectares of agricultural land, ensuring access to irrigation for local farmers. In Madagascar, CODEGAZ will set up 81 biodigesters to produce biogas and biofertilizers for agricultural use. In Benin, INTI is developing an improved cookstove industry using biofuels, while also structuring a distribution network for solar-dried food products.

A public-private commitment to rural electrification

The Watt For Change Foundation, created in 2024 by the VALOREM endowment fund, positions itself as a key player in funding energy projects with a social dimension. Its partnership with AFD reflects a commitment to combining public and private resources to address energy access challenges in Africa.

According to Stéphanie Lanfranchi, Director of the Mobilization and National Partnerships Department at AFD, this initiative aims to provide solutions adapted to local communities while generating tangible economic and social impacts. The implementation of energy solutions improves working conditions and fosters income-generating activities in rural areas.

Future prospects for the program

Beyond the initial funding, SCALE UP aims to create sustainable models for its partner associations. The technical support includes training beneficiaries in equipment maintenance, ongoing project monitoring, and active fundraising to ensure long-term viability.

Rural electrification remains a major challenge in several African regions, and locally adapted solutions can maximize efficiency. Through this collaboration, AFD and Watt For Change are supporting decentralized energy infrastructure while enabling the development of associated economic activities.

Talks on the Net-Zero Framework, which seeks to regulate greenhouse gas pricing on marine fuels, have been postponed until 2026 following a majority vote initiated by Saudi Arabia.
Liberty Energy warns about the impact of import duties on drilling and power equipment, pointing to a potential obstacle to federal goals related to artificial intelligence and energy independence.
Enedis will progressively reorganise off-peak hour time slots from 1 November, impacting 14.5 million customers by 2027, under new rules set by the Energy Regulatory Commission.
A report highlights the financial burden of fossil imports during the energy crisis and points to electrification as key to European energy security.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a review of public funding for renewable energy, without changing national targets, to avoid rent-seeking effects and better regulate the use of public funds.
The 2025 edition of the Renewable Electricity System Observatory warns of the widening gap between French energy ambitions and industrial reality, requiring immediate acceleration of investments in solar, wind and associated infrastructure.
Kogi State Electricity Distribution Limited reported a ₦1.3bn ($882,011) loss due to power fraud, threatening its operational viability in Kogi State.
More than 40 developers will gather in Livingstone from 26 to 28 November to turn Southern Africa’s energy commitments into bankable and interconnected projects.
Citepa projections confirm a marked slowdown in France's climate trajectory, with emissions reductions well below targets set in the national low-carbon strategy.
The United States has threatened economic sanctions against International Maritime Organization members who approve a global carbon tax on international shipping emissions.
Global progress on electricity access slowed in 2024, with only 11 million new connections, despite targeted efforts in parts of Africa and Asia.
A parliamentary report questions the 2026 electricity pricing reform, warning of increased market exposure for households and a redistribution mechanism lacking clarity.
The US Senate has confirmed two new commissioners to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, creating a Republican majority that could reshape the regulatory approach to national energy infrastructure.
The federal government launches a CAD3mn call for proposals to fund Indigenous participation in energy and infrastructure projects related to critical minerals.
Opportunities are emerging for African countries to move from extraction to industrial manufacturing in energy technology value chains, as the 2025 G20 discussions highlight these issues.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global renewable power capacity could more than double by 2030, driven by the rise of solar photovoltaics despite supply chain pressures and evolving policy frameworks.
Algeria plans to allocate $60 billion to energy projects by 2029, primarily targeting upstream oil and gas, while developing petrochemicals, renewables and unconventional resources.
China set a record for clean technology exports in August, driven by surging sales of electric vehicles and batteries, with more than half of the growth coming from non-OECD markets.
A night-time attack on Belgorod’s power grid left thousands without electricity, according to Russian local authorities, despite partial service restoration the following morning.
The French Academy of Sciences calls for a global ban on solar radiation modification, citing major risks to climate stability and the world economy.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.