• Oikocredit and GCPF provide $10 million debt facility to Sawa Energy

• Funding will support 35 MW of solar capacity across 250 projects

• Solar seen as a solution to frequent outages and high energy costs

Sawa Energy has secured $10 million in financing from impact investor Oikocredit, in partnership with the Global Climate Partnership Fund (GCPF), to expand its solar solutions for businesses in East Africa.

The funding, announced on March 26, will support the rollout of 35 megawatts of solar capacity across about 250 commercial and industrial projects over the next three years.

The initiative is based on a model that requires no upfront investment from businesses. Instead, companies sign long-term agreements that bundle electricity generation and storage, offering a more reliable and cost-effective alternative to unstable grid supply and diesel generators.

“Access to reliable and affordable energy remains one of the most significant barriers to business growth across East Africa,” said Samuel Kaufman, chief executive and co-founder of Sawa Energy. “This partnership with Oikocredit and GCPF allows us to accelerate the deployment of clean energy infrastructure that helps companies reduce energy costs, improve operational reliability, and lower their environmental footprint.”

Power supply challenges remain widespread across the region. According to the World Bank’s Global Indicators Briefs No. 32, 72.1% of businesses in sub-Saharan Africa experience an average of 7.6 power outages per month. These disruptions drive up energy costs and increase reliance on diesel, whose prices are subject to global volatility.

Against this backdrop, decentralized solar solutions are gaining traction as a way to secure energy supply and control costs. Sawa Energy has already deployed more than 65 installations in Rwanda and Uganda and is continuing to expand across East Africa.

Abdoullah Diop