African Development Bank’s African Legal Support Facility Continues U.S. Government Partnership with Power Africa; Strengthening African Governments’ Representation in Green Energy Deals.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the Power Africa Presidential Initiative, renewed its support to the African Development Bank’s African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) on the margins of the African Climate Summit in Nairobi. The renewal deepens the broader strategic partnership aimed at advancing sustainable solutions to combat climate change and energy poverty, and strengthen energy systems in sub-Saharan Africa.

Through a $2.6 million grant to the ALSF, the facility will provide legal advice to African countries in negotiating energy sector transactions - with a specific focus on clean energy transactions. This activity will specifically focus on three areas: 1) the provision of specialized international legal counsel to represent African governments directly or to advise national lawyers during the negotiation of energy sector transactions, 2) the development of model templates for future energy transactions, and 3) specialized trainings to build the capacity of African energy sector attorneys. 

During the African Climate Summit, Power Africa’s Acting Coordinator David Thompson and ALSF’s Director and CEO, Olivier Pognon reaffirmed the value of collaboration.  Highlighting the contribution of the ALSF, David Thompson said: “The ALSF’s provision of legal advice to African countries in negotiating complex commercial transactions, levels the field of legal expertise among the parties to negotiations, ensuring fair and sustainable deals.  By building a network of highly skilled African attorneys capable of working on, and closing, future transactions, ALSF ensures the longer-term growth and sustainability of the sector. This support is critical to advancing Power Africa’s goals of ensuring that African leaders are driving the growth and evolution of Africa’s energy sector.”

Olivier Pognon, Director and CEO of ALSF, echoed the importance of Power Africa and ALSF’s collaboration. “Power Africa is a long-standing supporter of the ALSF, we value their continued confidence in the work that we do and look forward to exploring how we can strengthen ALSF’s support to clean energy deals,” Pognon said.

Transactions supported under the renewed agreement will align with the Power Africa Strategic Framework, the Bank Group’s New Deal on Energy for Africa, and Sustainable Development Goal 7, all aiming to secure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

About Power Africa:

Since 2013, Power Africa has delivered first-time electricity to more than 190 million people across sub-Saharan Africa and connected more than 39 million homes and businesses to on- and off-grid energy solutions by adding 14 gigawatts of capacity. Power Africa officially has more than 200 public and private sector partners, including twelve U.S. government agencies.