The Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have advanced the implementation of the Africa Mini-Grids Program (AMP), a clean energy initiative designed to enhance socio-economic development, particularly in Nigeria’s rural agriculture ecosystem. The AMP, launched in 2022, is active in 21 countries and is funded by the GEF with support from the UNDP.
On Friday, January 31, 2025, the REA hosted the AMP Grant Award Ceremony, marking the launch of 23 additional mini-grids across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. With capacities ranging from 30Kwp to 200Kwp, these mini-grids are expected to benefit over 70,000 Nigerians, facilitate more than 600 productive-use connections, and provide energy access to over 375 social connections. Eighteen renewable energy developers have secured grants totaling $5.91 million for the initiative.
Since its inception, the REA has collaborated with the GEF, UNDP, the Federal Ministry of Environment, and other key stakeholders to align the GEF-funded AMP with Nigeria’s rural electrification and agricultural goals. The program aims to enhance energy access in last-mile communities by integrating renewable energy into agricultural value chains, ultimately driving food security and economic growth.
“The AMP aligns with the Federal Government’s focus on the optimisation of decentralised renewable energy solutions to catalyse growth and unlock opportunities in the agricultural sector,” said REA’s Managing Director/CEO, Abba Abubakar Aliyu. “Beyond powering homes, the implementation of the AMP will energise businesses, strengthen innovation in the sector, foster job creation, and reduce energy poverty across the country.”
The initiative is part of a broader effort to integrate sustainable energy into Nigeria’s agriculture sector. Of the 120 identified project sites under the Energising Agriculture Programme (EAP), 23 have been prioritised for the AMP’s pilot phase. These sites span diverse agricultural activities, including grain and non-grain processing, cold storage solutions to minimise post-harvest losses, and improving energy efficiency in staple food production.
Stanley Jonah, GEF Operational Focal Person and Director of PRS at the Federal Ministry of Environment, emphasised the program’s broader impact. “The completion of the AMP projects will not only enhance the agricultural value chain but also improve the quality of life for rural dwellers,” he said, reaffirming GEF’s commitment to expanding Nigeria’s energy access ecosystem.
UNDP Resident Representative Elsie Attafuah, represented by Muyiwa Odele, Head of Climate Change Unit, UNDP Nigeria, commended the REA for its implementation efficiency. “The timely delivery of AMP energy access interventions will catalyse broader opportunities for the private sector and serve as a model for the over 21 implementing countries in Africa,” Odele noted.
Dr. Bala Tyoden, AMP Programme Lead at REA, urged grantees to maintain compliance with standards and ensure transparency. He also encouraged developers to promote female inclusion in the energy sector, emphasising the importance of gender participation in advancing Nigeria’s clean energy agenda. With a 48-month implementation timeline, the GEF-funded mini-grids are expected to drive commercial investment in Nigeria’s mini-grid sector while delivering sustainable energy solutions to smallholder farmers and rural enterprises.
