Green energy for rural development (EVER): three new projects in Senegal, Mali and Benin

Many rural communities in Africa have limited access to electricity, which hampers local economic development. ADA's EVER programme supports local operators of solar mini-grids with a view to increasing access to renewable energy and encouraging the productive use of electricity. In 2025, ADA is expanding its programme by launching three new projects in Senegal, Benin and Mali.

Energy and entrepreneurship: a lever for development

Access to electricity helps to meet people's basic needs and facilitates local economic activities. To make energy infrastructure viable and provide secure access to energy, ADA is strengthening the organisational and financial skills of solar mini-grid operators as social enterprises. ADA and the operators are also working together to promote the development of rural entrepreneurs’   economic activities through the productive use of energy.

Three projects, one ambition: improving access to energy to boost local socio-economic development 

• ARESS (Benin): a strategy to promote the productive use of energy
  
  A key player in the renewable energy sector in Benin, ARESS now operates 12 solar mini-grids in rural areas. ADA is working with this operator to deploy a strategy that promotes the productive use of energy in recently electrified villages by combining the distribution of conventional equipment   with support for rural entrepreneurs and improved access to finance.
   

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• PFE Mbiddi (Senegal): an operator dedicated to stimulating rural economic development
  
  PFE Mbiddi is a local operator of two mini-grids that supply electricity to micro and small businesses in an area of high transhumance (periodic migration of livestock). A pioneer in this rural area, this committed operator plays a key role in providing sustainable access to energy. ADA is supporting this operator by helping to strengthen its management and governance and to diversify its sources of income through the sale of green equipment (solar lamps, higher-performance stoves, etc.)
   

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• Green Biz Africa (Mali): a social enterprise offering a variety of electrification solutions
  
  Green Biz Africa (GBA) provides electrification for rural businesses and households via solar mini-grids and individual kits. This pilot project, supported by ADA, aims to strengthen GBA’s business model and accelerate its growth by facilitating access to finance and optimising sales in urban areas so that it can continue to carry out its social mission in rural areas.
   

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Structured support to increase impact

ADA's approach is based on the following tools:

• Targeted technical assistance and financial support to enable operators to fully fulfil their social mission, by optimising their business model and by promoting the productive use of energy.
• Facilitating access to finance by involving local financial institutions and developing appropriate incentive mechanisms   for rural entrepreneurs.

Outlook

These projects will enable ADA to determine the required conditions for rendering solar mini-grid operators economically viable and to identify how to ensure sustainable access to energy in rural areas. The support provided by ADA forms part of a learning process aimed at adapting approaches based on the results achieved.

Further information