REPP’s objective is to accelerate Africa’s transition to a sustainable development pathway, including mitigating climate change, through its support for small-scale renewable energy projects and developers. It has achieved this by stimulating the development of a vibrant, networked and viable market for the sector with two specific aims: to contribute towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 – ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all, and SDG 13 – limit and adapt to climate change; and to mitigate climate change in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s call for a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5˚C above pre-industrial levels.

This has involved overcoming barriers such as limited financial resources and navigating both perceived and actual political and regulatory uncertainties. It has also entailed generating many projects and adjusting established financing methods to suit unfamiliar country contexts. These efforts have collectively enhanced investor confidence and motivation to participate in the market. By de-risking projects in this way, private finance has been encouraged to enter the market, thereby strengthening it and mitigating future risks.

REPP’s flexible financial approach, coupled with technical assistance and the risk mitigation support offered by its partners, has helped create the commercial interest necessary to increase the adoption of renewable energy technologies and lead to a shift towards low-emission, sustainable and climate-resilient development pathways in Africa, as presented in the Theory of Change model (see link below).

REPP is aligned with the 2X gender lens investing criteria, with 30% of all funding invested during its investment period in female-owned and/or female-led companies. The platform continues to provide investees with gender equality training and assist them in establishing gender action plans to improve gender equality within their operations and project implementation. REPP is also working in partnership with the 2X Collaborative to increase equitable climate finance flows through knowledge development and advocacy.

Investment in renewable energy is an enabler for inclusive socio-economic development and contributes positively to the improved health and wellbeing of project communities. As such, REPP is committed to demonstrating the technical and financial viability of innovative and scalable climate-resilient infrastructure that supports these co-benefits while contributing to the transition to net zero economies in the countries in which it operates. (Click the link to REPP’s contribution to the SDGs below for more on the social co-benefits of REPP investments.)

Every REPP investment has been made in economic activities that qualify as environmentally sustainable under the EU Taxonomy Regulations (2020), namely electricity generation using solar photovoltaic technology, wind power, run-of-river hydropower and geothermal energy.