African Development Bank's Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) supports electric cooking expansion across three African nations
Burn, a Kenya-based clean cookstove company and carbon developer with operations in over 10 African countries, will implement BEEP. This program makes clean cooking appliances more affordable and accessible by prefinancing induction cookers and recovering costs through carbon credit sales in the voluntary market. This innovative model combines carbon-backed subsidies with pay-as-you-go payment plans, significantly lowering upfront costs for end-users.
Capitalised through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), the Program is funded by a $5 million senior loan from the Spark+ Africa Fund, a $4 million reimbursable grant from SEFA, and $1 million in equity from Burn Manufacturing Company. This SPV will partner with Burn to manage sales, distribution, and servicing of the cookers. The appliances will generate carbon credits, owned by the SPV, with revenues shared among investors.
Dr. Daniel Schroth, Director for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at the African Development Bank Group, stated, 'This marks the Bank's first carbon finance transaction of its kind, with SEFA playing a critical role in mitigating carbon market risks and enhancing the Program's financial sustainability.'
The program aligns with SEFA's thematic area on Energy Efficiency, catalysing private sector investments in efficient appliances and promoting scale-up of clean cooking technologies. It also supports the Mission 300 Initiative and the Bank's New Deal on Energy for Africa, which aim to deliver universal energy access through low-carbon solutions.
'We are honoured to receive this catalytic investment from the African Development Bank's Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa—their first-ever investment in carbon projects focused on electric cooking. This milestone enables BURN to rapidly scale our IoT-enabled induction stove across Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia, providing low-income households with a zero-emission, digitally monitored alternative to charcoal and wood,' said Peter Scott, Founder and CEO, BURN. 'By integrating cutting-edge technology, carbon financing, and mobile-enabled Pay-As-You-Cook models, we are demonstrating that electric cooking can be clean, affordable, and scalable across the continent.'
In addition to environmental and health benefits, the program will stimulate job creation and fortify local supply chains within the three target countries, paving the way for a cleaner, more prosperous future for communities across Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
ABOUT SEFA:
SEFA is a multi-donor Special Fund that provides catalytic finance to unlock private sector investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. SEFA offers technical assistance and concessional finance instruments to remove market barriers, build a more robust pipeline of projects and improve the risk-return profile of individual investments. The Fund's overarching goal is to contribute to universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy services for all in Africa, in line with the New Deal on Energy for Africa and the M300.
About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group is Africa's leading development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). Represented in 41 African countries, with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member countries. For more information: www.AfDB.org
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
Benin: African Development Bank Approves Over $30 Million to Protect Farmers from Climate Shocks and Food Insecurity
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group ( has approved $30.25 million in financing for a groundbreaking climate protection and agricultural sector resilience program in Benin. Thanks to this approval, Beninese farmers, particularly those in northern Benin, will no longer have to fear losing their entire harvest during devastating droughts or sudden floods. This initiative will protect 150,000 smallholder farmers against climate shocks in a country where agriculture employs seven out of ten people but remains at the mercy of an increasingly unpredictable climate. The situation is particularly critical in the departments of Alibori and Atakora, where one in four farmers suffers from food insecurity, well above the national average. These northern regions face a double burden of climate challenges and spillover effects from Sahel instability, creating additional pressures through forced displacement and border closures with Niger. Climate projections indicate alarming future risks, with cotton production and maize yields expected to drop by 22% and 6.3% respectively, with potential economic losses estimated at approximately 201 billion CFA francs. "This investment represents our commitment to strengthening climate resilience in Benin's agricultural sector while responding to the urgent needs of vulnerable farming communities," said Robert Masumbuko, African Development Bank Country Representative in Benin. "By introducing innovative risk management tools and strengthening local capacities, we are helping farmers adapt to climate change while preventing conflicts and promoting social cohesion in fragile border areas." The project strengthens the Beninese government's efforts to establish agricultural insurance, whose pilot phase is managed by Benin's National Fund for Agricultural Development (FNDA). It introduces innovative climate risk transfer mechanisms, including sovereign insurance coverage against droughts and floods via the African Risk Capacity, and agricultural micro- insurance for smallholders. These tools will improve farmers' risk profiles with financial institutions, facilitating better access to credit and investment opportunities. Beyond insurance mechanisms, the initiative will strengthen institutional capacities for climate disaster management, deploy early warning systems with agrometeorological equipment, and promote climate-smart agricultural practices. The program specifically targets 30% youth participation and ensures 30% female representation among the 150,000 direct beneficiaries. Furthermore, special attention is given to social cohesion activities to support peaceful integration of displaced populations in host communities. The financing comes from multiple sources: $20 million from the "prevention" envelope of the Transition Support Facility, $5 million from the African Development Fund, $3 million from the ADRiFi multi-donor trust fund, and approximately $2.44 million in national counterpart contributions for insurance premiums. The project aligns with Benin's National Development Plan 2018-2025 and its National Adaptation Plan 2022-2027, supporting the country's agricultural transformation objectives while strengthening climate change resilience through innovative instruments such as insurance. Strategic partnerships with the World Food Programme, the World Bank, and bilateral donors such as Swiss and Luxembourg cooperations ensure comprehensive support for sustainable agricultural development, including the establishment of agricultural insurance in Benin. For Benin's farming families, this financing represents hope for protected harvests, stable incomes, and a safer future for their children. For northern Benin communities, this project is a guarantee of stability and social cohesion in a strategic region of West Africa, and finally, for the Beninese state, the project ensures financial resilience against increasingly recurrent disaster risks. The African Development Bank Group remains committed to supporting Africa's agricultural transformation through innovative climate adaptation solutions that protect vulnerable communities while promoting sustainable development and regional stability. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB). Media Contact: Natalie Nkembuh Communication and External Relations Department media@ About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group is Africa's leading development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). Represented in 41 African countries, with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member countries. For more information:
Zawya
3 days ago
- Zawya
Liberia salutes African Development Bank President Adesina in landmark Government session
I want you to know that your legacy in Liberia is strong and enduring, President Boakai tells Adesina 'With your vast natural resources, Liberia has no business being poor.' — Adesina Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai convened the full spectrum of his government leadership to hear from African Development Bank President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina ( whom he lauded for a transformative decade at the helm of Africa's premier development finance institution. The expanded cabinet meeting, held Tuesday 22 July at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Monrovia, brought together all three branches of the Liberian government: executive ministers, legislative leaders, the Chief Justice, and heads of state-owned enterprises. The event served as both a celebration of partnership and a platform for Adesina to share leadership insights as he nears the end of his term in August 2025. 'You have shown the world that bold ideas, when combined with clear vision and determination, can produce extraordinary results,' President Boakai declared. 'Through your leadership, the African Development Bank has invested in real solutions that touch lives every day.' Underscoring the gravity of the occasion, the Liberian president added: "The fact that all three branches of our government are represented speaks volumes about the value we place on your visit and the respect we have for your leadership and contributions.' In his rousing keynote address titled "Liberia: Arise, and Shine!", Dr. Adesina reflected on the Bank's enduring partnership with Liberia, which has resulted in $1.02 billion in investments across 72 projects since 1967. Key achievements include nearly 2,500 km of electricity transmission lines connecting Liberia with Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Guinea; the Liberia Energy Efficiency and Access Project, which delivered nearly 40,000 new grid connections; and 177 km of new roads including the transformational Fish Town-Harper and Karloken to Fish Town corridors. A central highlight of the event was the launch of the Liberia Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank (YEIB), a flagship $17 million initiative under the African Development Bank's Youth in Africa strategy. Liberia becomes the first African country to establish the dedicated youth-focused financial institution, aimed at equipping young Liberians aged 18-35 with the tools and capital to drive national development through entrepreneurship. President Boakai described the Bank's portfolio as 'more than numbers on paper.' 'They are roads that connect our communities, energy that lights homes and businesses, and agriculture projects that strengthen food security and create income for our farmers,' he said. Drawing from his experience as Nigeria's former Minister of Agriculture, and his decade-long leadership of the Bank, Adesina offered the Liberian cabinet a 7-point framework for transformational governance: setting clear and ambitious goals, ensuring measurable results, promoting teamwork and accountability and reforming institutions, especially the civil service and judiciary. 'Don't just blow the whistle, use your yellow card or red card. There is no need for rules in a soccer game if the referee never uses the yellow card or the red card,' Adesina said. 'You cannot spend time baby-sitting poor performers. The public is eager for results and time is not on your side. So, be firm. Reward performers. Dispense with non-performers.' He recommended the adoption of a 'One Government approach', as well as the establishment of a presidential awards program to 'recognize and incentivize inter-agency collaboration'; drawing from similar models at the African Development Bank. The Bank Group President urged the country to unlock greater value from its abundant resources. "With your vast natural resources, Liberia has no business being poor,' he stated. 'The export of raw materials is the door to poverty. The export of value-added products is the highway to wealth.' During a Q&A session, Adesina emphasized the importance of technical and vocational training, citing that 60 percent of Liberia's population is under the age of 35. He was responding to Education Minister Jarso Maley Jallah who inquired about strengthening entrepreneurship through the education system. Responding to a question from the Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Jerolinmek Piah on achieving fiscal targets, Adesina urged the government to plug revenue leakages, noting that Africa loses $88 billion annually to illicit financial flows. "Make your country investable: invest in transparency, rule of law, create the right environment, provide incentives," he added. Sannah Ziama, a local investor, praised Adesina's visionary leadership and called for sustained investments in solar power to unlock Liberia's industrial potential. As a low-income country and transition State, Liberia continues to benefit from the African Development Fund, the Bank's concessional lending arm, as well as the Transition Support Facility, and the Nigeria Trust Fund. Liberia is also part of the inaugural group of countries that have developed energy compacts under the Mission 300 program, a joint initiative of the African Development Bank and the World Bank to deliver electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030. In recognition of his exceptional contributions, President Boakai presented Adesina with a Presidential Pin of Honour. Adesina had previously received Liberia's highest national honour – the Order of the Star of Africa, Grade of Grand Band – in 2018. 'Dr. Adesina, as you prepare to move on from this chapter, I want you to know that your legacy in Liberia is strong and enduring, President Boakai said. 'The programs you have championed will continue to make an impact for years to come. Thank you for your faith in Liberia's potential, and thank you for investing in our people, especially our youth.' Adesina was accompanied by the Bank's Director General for West Africa, Lamin Barrow; Bank Executive Director for Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Ghana and Sudan, Rufus Darkortey; and Acting Country Manager, Foday Yusuf Bob. Liberia's historical connection with the African Development Bank dates back to the institution's founding, when Liberian official Romeo Alexander Horton served as the pioneer Chairman of the Committee of Nine that established the Bank in 1964. Read Dr. Adesina's address here ( Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB). Media Contacts: Natalie Nkembuh and Tolu Ogunlesi Communication and External Relations media@ About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group is Africa's premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information:
Zawya
3 days ago
- Zawya
Masdar, Iberdrola achieve financial close for $6.1bln East Anglia THREE Offshore wind project
Masdar, a global clean energy leader, and Iberdrola, one of the world's largest energy companies, today announced they have reached financial close for the 1.4-gigawatt (GW) East Anglia THREE offshore wind farm, in one of the biggest offshore wind transactions this decade. Project financing facilities totalling £3.6 billion (€4.1 billion) have been secured with 23 banks and the Danish Export Credit Agency (EIFO), in one of the biggest such transactions in the sector and the largest ever by Masdar. The financing will cover a substantial part of the total project costs, estimated at approximately €5.2 billion. The facility was oversubscribed by more than 40 percent, reflecting lenders' confidence in the project's fundamentals and the robustness of the partners. Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer, Masdar, said, 'The level and profile of investor interest in this financing deal – the largest we have ever signed at Masdar – reflects our position as a global leader in sustainable finance and investor appetite for high-quality renewable energy assets that deliver impact at scale. Today's announcement represents a significant step forward in our partnership with Iberdrola – and in the UK's clean energy journey, supporting the nation in meeting its energy transformation objectives. We look forward to collaborating further with Iberdrola on other gigawatt-scale greenfield projects that will help shape the future of clean energy in the UK and beyond.' Masdar and Iberdrola announced their co-investment in East Anglia THREE this month, with each party taking a 50 percent stake and having co-governance of the 1.4GW asset, which will be pivotal in advancing Europe's ambitious offshore wind development targets. Located off the Suffolk coast in the UK, East Anglia THREE will become one of the world's two largest offshore wind farms when it comes into operation in Q4 2026, delivering enough clean energy to power 1.3 million British homes. The project benefits from long-term revenue security through a 15-year CPI-linked Contract for Difference (CfD) awarded in the UK Government's AR4 and AR6 auctions, as well as a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Amazon signed in 2024. Over 2,300 jobs are expected to be created during construction, with 100 long-term roles supported across its lifetime. The co-investment in East Anglia THREE marks a significant milestone in the €15 billion strategic partnership Masdar and Iberdrola signed in December 2023 – one of the largest ever bilateral alliances in the global clean energy sector – to accelerate clean energy deployment across key markets including the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States. The participating banks in the East Anglia THREE financing are: BBVA, HSBC, ING, NatWest, SMBC, MUFG, Bank of China, Crédit Agricole, CaixaBank, Santander, BNP Paribas, Helaba, Barclays, ANZ, Rabobank, FAB, ICO, Abanca, Kutxabank, Standard Chartered Bank, Bank of Ireland, CIC and Siemens Bank. Crédit Agricole CIB and MUFG acted as financial advisors for the transaction, and A&O and Shearman acted as legal advisor to the borrower.
