PARTNERING WITH POWER AFRICA

Partnership is at the core of Power Africa. Bringing cleaner, more efficient electricity to sub-Saharan Africa requires new model of development —  linking public and private sector goals and resources, and connecting investors and entrepreneurs to opportunities.

We continue to add partners that are aligned with the mission of the initiative and will add significant value to the its efforts.  A partnership with Power Africa is a non-binding, non-financial commitment to collaborate with Power Africa’s effort to facilitate the development of 30,000 megawatts (MW) of cleaner, more efficient electricity generation capacity, as well as increase electricity access by adding 60 million new home and business connections throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

Who can Become a Partner?

Power Africa seeks partners that are aligned with effort to 30,000 megawatts (MW) of cleaner, more efficient electricity generation capacity, as well as increase electricity access by adding 60 million new home and business connections throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Power Africa partners include a range of private sector players across the power delivery value chain that can help Power Africa and sub-Saharan African nations meet these ambitious goals. Power Africa partners include developers/sponsors, debt and equity providers, transmission and distribution companies, EPCs, equipment suppliers, as well as, foundations and energy associations.

How can my company become a Power Africa Partner?

Step 1: As a first step, please familiarize yourself with Power Africa: http:// www.usaid.gov/powerafrica/partners.

Step 2: Express your interest in partnering with Power Africa by providing a brief description of your company and proposed power sector activities in sub-Saharan Africa. Submit your inquiry to : powerafrica@usaid.gov

Step 3: A member of the Power Africa team will reach out to you to further understand your interest in the initiative and explore how best Power Africa and your company might collaborate.

Step 4: If there appears to be a strong fit, your company may be invited to provide a letter of commitment expressing your support for Power Africa and setting forth the specific activities you intend to pursue in furtherance of Power Africa’s objectives (e.g., investing $___, developing ___ MWs, providing energy access to ___ people).

Step 5: Power Africa will evaluate a submitted letter of commitment and determine whether or not to proceed with further due diligence to verify the company’s operational status and ensure that the company has a positive financial, environmental and social policy standing  such that a potential partnership will not result in reputational harm to Power Africa and USAID.

Step 6: Once a positive due diligence outcome is confirmed, new Power Africa partners will be notified and begin collaborating with our teams on specific projects and/or programs to advance power generation and access goals.

Benefits of Power Africa Partnership

A key strength of the Power Africa initiative is the diverse and high quality group of Power Africa partners. We are frequently introducing partners and facilitating dialogue among our partners, which has resulted in significant collaboration opportunities and the development of strong working relationships within the network. We are currently exploring additional approaches that could further expand collaboration and information sharing within the Power Africa network.

In addition, the US Government has a variety of tools and resources available to assist Power Africa partners and their projects. Companies that focus on smaller scale, rural, off- and/or mini-grid solutions are important partners to Power Africa as they directly address energy access issues. We have a large number of such partners supporting our Beyond the Grid sub-initiative. Power Africa private-sector partners receive a variety of benefits from aligning themselves with the initiative, including:

• Streamlined and coordinated access to the 12 Power Africa agencies of the U.S. Government (USG), including through joint meetings with multiple USG agencies

• Open lines of communication to Power Africa staff and transaction advisors on the ground

• Opportunity to inform Power Africa’s policy reform, transaction advisory and technical assistance efforts aimed at addressing critical constraints to power sector development and investment

• Review of the partner’s project pipeline to identify opportunities for potential support of Power Africa agencies

• Potential technical and transactional assistance from on-the-ground advisors

• Connections to other members of the Power Africa partnership

• Invitations to Power Africa-related events

• Profile in a quarterly Power Africa newsletter

• Recognition as partner on Power Africa website and in Power Africa publications

• Positive public relations and enhanced profile that come with connection to the respected Power Africa brand

While there are many benefits to becoming a Power Africa partner, partners will not receive any favorable treatment with respect to acquisition and assistance instruments that may be awarded by USG agencies and are not guaranteed support from USG agencies for the partner’s projects or business, whether in the form of financing, technical assistance, advocacy or otherwise.

Criteria for Power Africa Partnership

In order to become a Power Africa Partner, a private sector company must demonstrate the ability to aid Power Africa in reaching its goals of adding 30,000 Megawatts of cleaner energy and 60 million new home and business connections by 2030. Potential private sector partners are assessed using a number of different criteria, including, but not limited to,

• the location of projects, sub-Saharan Africa
• capacity to complete projects, 
• experience and presence in sub-Saharan Africa, 
• cleaner technologies used for projects, 
• confirmation based on a due diligence review that the partnership would not cause representational risk to the United States Government.

Limitations on Partnership

While there are many benefits to becoming a Power Africa partner, partners will not receive any favorable treatment with respect to acquisition and assistance instruments that may be awarded by U.S. Government agencies, and are not guaranteed support from U.S. Government agencies for the partner’s projects or business, whether in the form of financing, technical assistance, advocacy or otherwise.

Connect with Us

If you are a business working in (or considering) the power sector in sub-Saharan Africa, we invite you to contact us. Please fill out the form below to partner with Power Africa or to request other information.

A member of the Power Africa team will reach out to you to further understand your interest in the initiative and explore how best Power Africa and your organization might collaborate. If there appears to be a strong fit, your organization may be invited to provide a letter of commitment expressing your support for Power Africa and setting forth the specific activities you intend to pursue.