EnDev partnership renewed: Turning Africa’s energy priorities into action
28 September 2026 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
On 28 September, the African Union Commission (AUC), Germany, Switzerland and Norway came together at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa to launch the renewed EnDev partnership. The launch marked a shared commitment of the partners to expand sustainable energy access and strengthen inclusive domestic energy markets across Africa.
Held alongside the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM) High-Level Technical Oversight Committee meeting, the launch brought EnDev’s strategic evolution into the wider context of Africa’s energy transition and regional electricity market integration.
A strategic evolution, shaped by African priorities
Africa faces the world’s largest energy access gap, with around 600 million people lacking access to electricity and more than one billion lacking access to clean cooking. For the African Union, expanding energy access is a strategic priority under Agenda 2063, supporting industrialisation, economic transformation, regional integration and improved quality of life.
Against this backdrop, the renewed EnDev partnership brings together the African Union Commission, Germany, Switzerland and Norway around a shared commitment to African-led energy market transformation and sustainable energy access. Guided by the priorities of the AUC and its Member States, the partnership translates continental priorities set out in Agenda 2063 and initiatives such as the “African Single Electricity Market” (AfSEM) into practical action at country level – responding to diverse and changing national contexts.
Building on results, growing for greater impact
The renewed partnership marks a strategic evolution of EnDev – building on what has worked and strengthening its contribution to Africa’s energy priorities. The partnership carries forward more than 20 years of experience delivering sustainable energy access across Africa. By the end of 2025, EnDev had reached 27.2 million people, 14,580 social institutions and 58,180 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with improved energy access in Africa.
Starting in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda, EnDev expects to reach an additional 561,900 people, support more than 70 social institutions and work with 2,260 MSMEs by November 2027.
From partnership to action
At the launch, partners highlighted that the renewed partnership is also designed to grow over time, with a clear ambition to expand the portfolio as additional funding is secured. The shared objective is to build a balanced continental portfolio that brings together countries with more mature energy markets and those where markets are still emerging.
Together, these ambitions define the direction of the renewed partnership: building on proven experience, expanding its reach and strengthening its contribution to Africa’s energy transition.
EnDev is part of the broader Accelerating the Energy Transition in Africa (ENGAGE) programmed as its dedicated energy access pillar. In this role, EnDev complements continental efforts on energy sector transformation and regional electricity market integration, strengthening the link between AUC strategic priorities and implementation at AUC Member State level. EnDev is implemented by GIZ.
