EVER programme: 2025, a pivotal year for the productive use of solar energy in rural areas

2025 marked a milestone in the roll-out of the “Green Energy for Rural Development” (EVER) programme, which aims to strengthen and scale up the impact of access to solar energy in rural areas of West Africa by promoting its productive uses. This momentum has led to several major advances: the expansion of the programme to new operators and territories, the piloting of financial mechanisms for the productive use of energy, and the development of a holistic approach to support rural entrepreneurs. 

The EVER programme is built on the conviction that supporting rural entrepreneurs is essential to ensuring sustainable access to energy in remote areas. Without the productive use of clean energy, consumption levels remain too low for solar mini-grids to be financially viable, and rural communities cannot fully benefit from electrification. For this reason, the programme seeks to strengthen the entire productive-use ecosystem by supporting decentralised renewable energy suppliers, rural entrepreneurs and financial stakeholders. 

Programme expansion 

In 2025, two new renewable energy suppliers — ARESS and OnePower — joined the programme community in Benin. ADA now supports a total of five suppliers, operating in three West African countries and managing 79 solar mini-grids. These infrastructures have already enabled 933 local entrepreneurs to gain access to electricity.  

In addition, operator COSEER in Senegal, a partner of the programme since 2024, secured financing from the Financing Innovation Tool (FIT), an ADA financing facility, enabling the acquisition of  3 200 smart meters in October. This investment aims to connect a growing number of customers, both households and entrepreneurs, and to support the expansion of solar mini-grids. 

Financing the productive use of energy: a pilot project 

One of the main challenges remains the financing of productive equipment needed for the economic activities of rural entrepreneurs (freezers, mills, embroidery machines, etc.). Many microfinance institutions are reluctant to lend due to perceived risks associated with renewable energy, high operational costs in remote areas, and the lack of financial products tailored to productive equipment. 

To help bridge this gap, ADA is testing a Results-Based Financing (RBF) mechanism, which encourages microfinance institutions to finance the acquisition of productive equipment and the working capital of rural entrepreneurs. In this context, two microfinance institutions in Senegal, Pamecas and U-IMCEC, have entered into partnerships with the programme. At the same time, other equipment financing solutions are being tested. Together, these initiatives have enabled 76 local entrepreneurs to access financing for productive equipment in 2025. 

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Support beyond financing 

Access to finance for entrepreneurs is part of a broader support strategy aimed at stimulating rural socio-economic development. ADA and its partners also work to facilitate the distribution, sale and after-sales service of productive equipment in remote areas.  

At the same time, through partnerships with organisations specialising in strengthening entrepreneurial skills, local entrepreneurs are made aware of the economic opportunities associated with the productive use of energy. They also receive training and coaching sessions in business management and in preparation for financing. In 2025, 220 entrepreneurs were thus trained, 32 % of whom were women. 

Structuring and promoting the decentralised renewable energy sector 

Beyond field-level activities, ADA actively contributes to the structuring and promoting the decentralised renewable energy sector. The organisation participates in and sponsors strategic events, such as the ARE Energy Access Investment Forum.  

In 2025, the EVER programme team also leveraged the African Inclusive Finance Week to strengthen knowledge-sharing between decentralised renewable energy suppliers and raise awareness among microfinance institutions of opportunities to finance the productive use of energy.