• Burundi solar project gets funding boost, two-year extension for expansion

• Plan includes 12,000 solar systems, monitoring across 700 public sites

• Initiative targets rural electrification, aiming 70% access by 2030

The SOLEIL-Nyakiriza solar project in Burundi will receive additional funding to improve electricity access for public institutions, the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) said on Tuesday, March 24.

ESMAP did not specify the amount of funding but announced a two-year extension and additional support from Germany’s development agency, GIZ. The funding is expected to strengthen the sustainability of existing installations and expand off-grid energy solutions.

Under the agreement, a remote monitoring system will be deployed across up to 700 public infrastructure sites, including schools and health centres. It also includes the rollout of around 12,000 solar home systems.

Launched in 2020 by the Burundian government with support from the World Bank Group, the SOLEIL-Nyakiriza project aims to improve electricity access in rural areas through decentralised solar solutions and private sector participation, targeting social infrastructure and vulnerable households.

The project has three main components: solar electrification of schools and health centres, installation of individual solar systems for vulnerable households, and capacity building and technical assistance, according to the World Bank Group.

Burundi’s electricity access rate stands at about 25.9%, according to the country’s National Energy Pact, developed under the Mission 300 initiative and approved at an extraordinary cabinet meeting on September 18, 2025. This includes 17.9% from decentralised solutions.

The government aims to raise overall electricity access to 70%, including 40% off-grid, by 2030.

The extension of the SOLEIL-Nyakiriza project reflects ongoing efforts to expand electricity access through decentralised infrastructure, particularly in rural areas.

Abdoullah Diop