USAID Grants $1.1 Million to Enhance Solar Access and Economic Resilience in Senegal

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The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced a significant grant of $1.1 million to empower local solar technology firms and renewable energy developers in Senegal. This initiative, known as the Scaling Up Renewable Energy (SURE) initiative, aims to increase access to solar solutions, enhance small business productivity in off-grid areas, and improve the livelihoods of rural communities across Senegal.

Under the SURE initiative, USAID will allocate grants to several prominent solar tech companies, including Ibriz, FlexNRJ, BONERGIE, Tysilio, SolarX, Kossam SDE, Jokosun, and Africa Green Tec.

The grants will be distributed as follows:

1. Solar Water Pumps for Women: A total of up to $375,000 will be provided to Ibriz, FlexNRJ, and BONERGIE to expand access to solar water pumps for women in Niayes, Casamance, and Eastern Senegal. This initiative aims to empower women farmers, improve livelihoods, and generate employment opportunities in rural areas.
2. Solar Solutions Expansion: Up to $475,000 will be allocated to Tysilio and SolarX to support the expansion of solar solutions in agriculture, fisheries, and commercial ventures. These grants will strengthen partnerships between local financiers, renewable energy developers, and their customers, fostering investment in renewable energy projects and facilitating the development of financial products tailored to the energy sector’s needs.
3. Energy-as-a-Service Models: Kossam SDE, Jokosun, and Africa Green Tec will receive up to $290,000 to promote energy-as-a-service models in solar cooling, electric-powered transportation, and other solar applications for small businesses. This model allows buyers to purchase only the energy they need, making it more accessible to rural and coastal customers.

USAID Mission Director Alyssa Leggoe highlighted the environmentally friendly nature of solar power, emphasizing its role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the lives of rural communities. The SURE Senegal program, leveraging declining solar and battery costs, aims to mobilize an additional $1.4 million in private capital, enhancing stability, reducing electricity costs, and increasing productivity for small businesses, with a particular focus on benefiting women in rural areas. This initiative aligns with USAID’s commitment to expanding clean energy and building climate resilience in economic sectors vulnerable to climate change.