The 10th Energy Access Investment Forum (EAIF) concluded with a clear message: decentralised renewable energy (DRE) must scale—not only in capacity, but in inclusion, skills, and long-term value for communities.
For EnGreen, this edition was more than a turning point—it was a platform to reaffirm who we are and where we’re going. It was also an opportunity to demonstrate, once again, that energy access is not just about infrastructure—it’s about people, green jobs, and lasting development.
Our CEO on the Future of DRE and Green Jobs
A key moment for us was the participation of our CEO, Carlo Tacconelli, as a speaker during the thematic session: “Financing DRE skills development, capacity reinforcement and green job creation.”
This discussion struck at the heart of EnGreen’s mission. Carlo shared our belief that the decentralised energy sector must serve as a catalyst for inclusive economic opportunity, especially across rural Africa, with the private sector paving the way to shape curricula and providing inputs to public education institutions.
Drawing from our work with the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) and UNIDO, Carlo presented EnGreen’s approach to building robust local ecosystems for energy deployment—where technical training, youth employment, and local ownership are not afterthoughts, but pillars of the project design.
This vision is not theoretical. It’s backed by practice. Whether delivering mini-grids in Mozambique or powering schools and clinics in Burundi, we consistently invest in local capacity as a strategy for sustainability.
Strategic Participation in the United Nations’ Africa Minigrids Program
One of the most impactful moments of EAIF 2025 was our invitation to participate in the private UNDP side session on the Africa Minigrid Program (AMP).
We are proud to contribute to the AMP dialogue at such a strategic level. It reinforces our role as a trusted technical partner, able to inform high-level programmatic frameworks while continuing to execute projects on the ground.
This participation also aligns with our ongoing support for multilateral institutions such as UNDP and the World Bank in advancing energy access as a driver of socio-economic resilience.
Spotlight on the Comoros: From Plans to People
Among the projects that generated significant interest at EAIF was the Comoros Islands mini-grid programme, led by UNDP. EnGreen serves as the main consultant for this initiative, supporting the piloting of solar mini-grids across underserved island communities.
The project is gaining visibility—UNDP recently released a video featuring its progress and goals, with insights from our colleague Federico Trezza, who is working directly with local stakeholders.
Watch the video: Empowering Rural Comoros – How Minigrids Will Bring Electricity and Economic Growth
This project reflects EnGreen’s full-cycle approach—from technical design to effective implementation —ensuring solutions that are reliable, scalable, and rooted in local needs.
What We’re Taking Forward
EAIF 2025 brought clarity to a few key priorities:
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- Execution capacity is the missing link. Capital is ready. Policies are evolving. What’s needed is reliable, embedded partners who understand both the boardroom and the field.
- Jobs and renewable energy go hand in hand. Electrification cannot be detached from human development. Our sector must create jobs, build skills, and stimulate local economies.
- Public-private coordination is critical. Forums like EAIF show us how essential it is for governments, investors, and implementers to stay aligned—especially on structuring bankable, inclusive energy access programmes.
What’s Next
Our journey continues with renewed energy.
We’re now preparing for our participation in Innovation Africa 2025 in Addis Ababa, where we will once again contribute our field perspective to the broader conversation on sustainable development.
For us, it’s also an opportunity to continue strengthening our role in the ecosystem as a trusted partner able to channel and operationalise international development finance in support of impactful, field-based projects.
Meanwhile, with our new office in Senegal, we’re working on electrifying agribusiness, powering healthcare facilities, and designing energy systems that directly support rural productivity and social infrastructure.
What defines our approach is our direct engagement in the field. Our teams are present where the projects take shape—working closely with communities, institutions, and private actors to ensure that energy systems are not only technically sound, but socially embedded and economically viable.
Strategic relationships built over time are now evolving into more structured collaborations. We’ve deepened our ties with UNDP, particularly through our ongoing work on the Comoros Islands mini-grid programme. Our participation in the private session of the Africa Minigrid Program (AMP) at EAIF further solidified our contribution to shaping regional priorities.
And our longstanding cooperation with the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) continues to grow, aligning on shared objectives around access, skills, and inclusive growth.
We move forward with solid partnerships, new opportunities, and the determination to keep delivering—not just promises, but energy that powers lives.
