How can lessons learned from 20 years of EnDev drive scale in energy access – and bring us closer to SDG7? This question was at the heart of the discussion at EnDev’s side event “Energising Africa’s Future – Building on Two Decades of EnDev Experience” at the Africa Climate Summit (08-10 September 2025) in Ethiopia.
One message resonated strongly throughout the event: partnerships are the key to taking energy access in Africa to the next level. It became clear how vital cooperation between governments, donors, companies, financiers, and civil society is to accelerate impact and reach more people.
“Partnerships power progress. And EnDev is an example of a coalition of the willing to drive change forward. Because scalable, inclusive solutions demand all of us: policymakers, donors, investors, businesses, and civil society.”
— Alexander Haack, Programme Director EnDev
As we celebrate 20 years of EnDev, these words reflect what our programme has consistently shown: lasting impact requires strong partnerships – and only together can we achieve universal access to energy.
From two decades of experience, five key lessons learned stand out. Click through the slides and find out!
EnDev was founded as – and remains – a multi-donor partnership, combining the resources and expertise of both core donors and partner countries. Efficiency is at the heart of the programme, reaching people at a cost of less than €20 per person. The multi-stakeholder approach is central to this success, enabling coordinated, coherent support that prioritises implementation.
EnDev has reached nearly 34 million people – an impressive figure, but still far from universal access. Achieving that goal requires thriving markets, which is why EnDev follows a market-based approach. When private companies see opportunities, they innovate, scale, and reach more households and businesses than any donor programme ever could. EnDev’s role is to accelerate this market growth by supporting business models, products, and services that meet real needs.
Public funds alone are not enough, but when used strategically, they can unlock private investment and enable large-scale impact. EnDev has been pioneering this approach through first-loss instruments, such as our Access to Finance tools, and more broadly through collaboration with the World Bank on Demand-Side Subsidies.
Market mechanisms alone cannot reach the poorest or most remote households – millions would still be left behind due to the affordability gap. EnDev has learned that universal access does not happen by chance; it requires deliberate intent. That is why we combine market-based solutions with inclusive approaches, such as demand-side subsidies to make stoves affordable, targeted support for refugees, pay-as-you-go financing, and revolving funds.
Energy is never an end in itself – it must improve livelihoods. When energy links with other sectors, it becomes the foundation for economic growth, even on a small scale. Electricity that powers irrigation, milling or cold storage strengthens entire value chains. It is through cross-sector partnerships that we can move from isolated interventions to systemic change
EnDev was founded as – and remains – a multi-donor partnership, combining the resources and expertise of both core donors and partner countries. Efficiency is at the heart of the programme, reaching people at a cost of less than €20 per person. The multi-stakeholder approach is central to this success, enabling coordinated, coherent support that prioritises implementation.
EnDev has reached nearly 34 million people – an impressive figure, but still far from universal access. Achieving that goal requires thriving markets, which is why EnDev follows a market-based approach. When private companies see opportunities, they innovate, scale, and reach more households and businesses than any donor programme ever could. EnDev’s role is to accelerate this market growth by supporting business models, products, and services that meet real needs.
Public funds alone are not enough, but when used strategically, they can unlock private investment and enable large-scale impact. EnDev has been pioneering this approach through first-loss instruments, such as our Access to Finance tools, and more broadly through collaboration with the World Bank on Demand-Side Subsidies.
Market mechanisms alone cannot reach the poorest or most remote households – millions would still be left behind due to the affordability gap. EnDev has learned that universal access does not happen by chance; it requires deliberate intent. That is why we combine market-based solutions with inclusive approaches, such as demand-side subsidies to make stoves affordable, targeted support for refugees, pay-as-you-go financing, and revolving funds.
Energy is never an end in itself – it must improve livelihoods. When energy links with other sectors, it becomes the foundation for economic growth, even on a small scale. Electricity that powers irrigation, milling or cold storage strengthens entire value chains. It is through cross-sector partnerships that we can move from isolated interventions to systemic change
These five lessons highlight a simple truth: partnerships drive progress. Only through joint efforts can we deliver sustainable, scalable energy access that transforms lives.
If you click on any of these links you are redirected to the respective platform, where personal data is collected. For more information read the Privacy Policy).
Climate-friendly cooking is emerging as one of Africa’s most impactful solutions for sustainable development. By reducing emissions, strengthening markets, and creating jobs, it is proving to be a driver of …
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 09 September 2025 At the 2025 Africa Climate Summit, the lessons-learned report of the Promotion of Climate-Friendly Cooking: Kenya and Senegal project was launched. The project …
