The Green Climate Fund, the African Development Bank (ADfB) and Africa50 investment fund are to collaborate on bringing solar energy to the Sahel region in the wake of ADfB launching its 10GW plan.

The Desert to Power programme, initiated by the African Development Bank in January, will support grid-connected and off-grid solar initiatives across the belt of coutries to the south of the Sahara, aiming to power 250 million people, including 90 million through off-grid solutions.

The three international organisations, including Africa50, which is a new investment vehicle established by the AfDB, have announced that they will share ideas and resources about opportunities to make solar power available in the region.

GCF executive director Howard Bamsey said: “Sahel countries have identified the potential of solar power to bring green energy to people across the region. Renewable energy investment is a priority in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.”

African Development Bank’s President Akinwumi A. Adesina welcomed GCF’s support to the initiative, which he said has the potential, with investment from the private sector, to become the world’s largest solar power zone.

“The Desert to Power programme will transform countries in the Sahel region by accelerating their access to energy through solar power. To realize this ambition, strong collaboration is needed. Therefore the partnership with the Green Climate Fund and Africa50 is a great milestone and will help us deliver at scale,” he added.

Alain Ebobissé, CEO of Africa50, stated, “Africa50 is about leveraging partnerships to contribute to the continent’s growth through developing and funding high impact private and PPP infrastructure projects. This agreement allows us to leverage our project development capabilities and build a bigger pipeline of bankable projects that will provide millions of people and businesses on the continent with clean and affordable energy.”