Who are we?
ECREE / BOAD REGIONAL PROJECT
Bringing light to
West Africa, one
community at a time.
The Regional Off-Grid Electrification Action Project (ROGEAP) is a regional initiative aimed at increasing access to electricity for households, businesses and public institutions through off-grid solar solutions in 19 countries across West Africa and the Sahel.
208M
NO ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY
70%
IN RURAL AREAS
≈ $345M
TOTAL BUDGET
Our mission
To make solar energy more widely accessible in West Africa and the Sahel through a harmonised, inclusive and sustainable regional approach.
By removing political barriers, ensuring product quality, funding local entrepreneurship and raising public awareness, the ROGEAP works across the entire energy value chain — so that electricity is no longer a privilege, but a right accessible to all.
Our values
Inclusion
Every household, every business and every rural community deserves fair access to energy.
Sustainability
We prioritise clean, environmentally friendly solar solutions that are designed for the long term.
Entrepreneurship
We believe in the power of local entrepreneurs as drivers of regional energy development.
Regional cooperation
Harmonising policies across countries is the key to a strong and coherent solar market.
Quality & trust
Only certified and reliable products can foster long-term adoption amongst the population
Geographical coverage
The project covers the 12 member countries of the Organisation for the Development of the Sahel (ECOWAS) as well as seven additional Sahel countries, making a total of 19 beneficiary countries.
Geographical coverage
≈ $345 million
TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET
World Bank — main donor
Clean Technology Fund (CTF)
DGIC — Government of the Netherlands
Project objectives
ROGEAP works across six complementary areas to create a viable, inclusive and sustainable off-grid solar market in the 19 countries.
- To identify and remove the policy barriers hindering the growth of off-grid solar PV products by raising awareness amongst government decision-makers.
- To help countries adopt common external tariffs (CETs) to facilitate trade in off-grid solar products.
- To develop a regional quality assurance framework to ensure access to certified products across all 19 countries.
- to strengthen human capital and foster local entrepreneurship through targeted training and a structured skills development framework.
- To facilitate access to finance for businesses in the solar sector and their beneficiaries in this emerging market.
- To minimise the risks associated with the introduction of new technologies and new business models in the off-grid sector.
Project structure
The ‘ROGEAP’ is organised into two complementary components,
each led by a leading partner institution.
Component I
Regional
market development Implementing agency: ECOWAS
(ecowas.int)
Creating a favourable business environment and strengthening the technical and financial capacity of
solar entrepreneurs
Sub-component 1a — Enabling
environment Sub-component 1b — Technical support for entrepreneurship
Sub-component 1c — Financial support for entrepreneurship
Sub-component 1d — Removing barriers to difficult markets
Component II
Access to finance
Implementing agency: West African Development Bank (BOAD)
To facilitate access to finance through a credit line and a guarantee scheme for eligible solar energy companies.
Sub-component 2a — Credit line for solar
energy companies Sub-component 2b — Contingent grant facility