AMDA and UNDP Partner to Accelerate Minigrid Deployment Across Africa

Cape Town, 25 June 2025 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in accelerating the deployment of sustainable minigrids across Africa. The MoU was signed on 19 June during the Africa Energy Forum (AEF) held in Cape Town, South Africa.

The partnership supports the Africa Minigrid Program (AMP), a USD 50 million technical assistance initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented together with RMI and the African Development Bank, designed to increase investment in solar-battery minigrids and expand energy access in underserved communities.

Under this partnership, UNDP and AMDA will work together across five key areas: technical assistance, capacity building, data and digital innovation, policy advocacy, and resource mobilization. By combining UNDP’s global reach and policy expertise with AMDA’s deep technical knowledge and private sector network, the partnership aims to accelerate the scale-up of minigrid solutions and improve enabling conditions for both developers and governments.

“We know that minigrids are one of the most practical and cost-effective solutions for rural electrification in Africa. But to scale, we must bridge the gap between ambition and bankability,” said Mateo Salomon, Head of Climate Change Mitigation at UNDP. “This partnership with AMDA helps us do exactly that— aligning the development community, government and private sector to turn potential into reality.”

“AMDA is pleased to formalize this collaboration with UNDP, a critical partner in advancing sustainable development across the continent. This MoU underscores our shared commitment to scaling minigrid deployment through data-driven policy advocacy, catalytic financing, and capacity building,” said Olamide Niyi-Afuye, Chief Executive Officer of AMDA. “By aligning our strengths, we aim to create a more enabling ecosystem for minigrid developers and accelerate progress toward universal energy access in Africa.”

This agreement marks a major step in advancing energy access by unlocking the potential of minigrids to drive inclusive and resilient development across Africa. According to the third edition of the Benchmarking Africa’s Minigrids report by AMDA, the African minigrid market is expanding, driving up electrification rates and spurring job creation. However, regulatory bottlenecks, funding issues and supply chain problems are hindering the pace of development and driving up costs. The new report calls for governments, investors, and industry stakeholders to intensify efforts to scale minigrids for Africa’s energy future through data-driven insights.