At the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Rockefeller Foundation announced a $10.9 million investment to support clean energy projects led by Africans.

This funding, revealed during Energy Day at the conference, shows the foundation’s dedication to advancing sustainable energy solutions across Africa. The money will go toward various projects aimed at improving energy access and boosting the use of renewable energy technologies.

One key part of this effort is the African Energy Futures Initiative (AEFI), which will receive $2.1 million.

AEFI will offer funding and technical support for energy solutions created by Africans. By providing long-term funding to centers that specialize in energy system modeling and analysis, the initiative will help local experts develop strategies that meet the specific needs of African communities.

Another $3 million will be invested in the African School of Regulation. This institution will work on creating policies and rules to improve energy management and implement sustainable energy systems.

The Rockefeller Foundation will also spend $400,000 to launch a Clean Cooking Delivery Unit in Kenya.

This unit will help millions of people move away from using traditional biomass fuels, which are harmful to health and the environment, and switch to cleaner cooking solutions.

An additional $300,000 will be used to support the integration of off-grid solar solutions into national plans for electrification in about 20 countries.

This is especially important for rural areas in Africa that still don’t have reliable electricity. The largest share of the investment—$5 million—will be used to install more than 1,000 mini-grids in rural Zambia.

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These mini-grids will bring much-needed electricity to communities that have been left out of traditional power grids.

William Asiko, Vice President and head of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Africa Regional Office, stressed the importance of Africa leading its own journey toward sustainable energy.

He explained that the foundation aims to work with African leaders to scale up innovations that improve lives and create economic opportunities in vulnerable communities.

The need for these projects is urgent. About 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to electricity, limiting economic growth, education, and efforts to reduce poverty.

The investment comes at a time when Africa and other regions face a “Green Power Gap” of 8,700 terawatt-hours (TWh).

This gap reflects the amount of renewable energy needed by 2050 to meet global climate and development goals.

The Rockefeller Foundation’s focus aligns with ongoing efforts in Africa to shift to renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.

These resources are plentiful on the continent and hold great potential for economic development while addressing climate change.

By investing in local ideas and empowering communities, this initiative aims to close the energy gap and encourage sustainable growth across Africa.

With challenges like energy poverty and climate change, such partnerships will be key to building a more equal and sustainable future for all Africans.