The European Union-funded Salone Off-Grid Renewable Energy Acceleration (SOGREA) Initiative has launched a new €22 million Investment Facility in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone and private sector partners. The initiative aims to accelerate electricity access through the deployment of green mini-grids, advancing Sierra Leone’s national goal of universal energy access. Implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and its hosted entity Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), SOGREA seeks to attract private investment into rural electrification by providing catalytic funding support for mini-grid development across the country.
Through its Milestone-triggered Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Investment Support, SOGREA will provide partial funding to private developers to build new or upgrade existing mini-grids, thereby expanding electricity connections and lowering tariffs. This initiative complements the government’s regulatory reforms aimed at ensuring affordability, sustainability, and transparency in the mini-grid sector. The support mechanism bridges the gap between actual energy supply costs and the tariffs households can afford, promoting a financially viable environment for private sector participation.
Government representatives have highlighted the investment as a critical step toward creating an enabling framework for sustainable energy expansion. Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF), emphasized that the €22 million investment will leverage private capital, reduce risks, and stimulate economic growth. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering transparent and impactful partnerships that drive both social and economic development.
Ambassador Jacek Jankowski, Head of the EU Delegation to Sierra Leone, underlined the alignment of SOGREA with the EU’s broader commitments to sustainability, energy access, and climate resilience. He noted that the initiative’s targeted grants directly address the financing gap for green mini-grids, which are essential for powering remote and underserved communities, and contribute to building a decentralized clean energy future for Sierra Leone.
The facility operates under a strict milestone-based reimbursement system, with payments released only upon verified progress, such as equipment delivery, grid commissioning, and operational certification. This system, supported by third-party verification and on-site inspections, ensures accountability and efficiency. UNOPS West Africa Director Silvia Gallo reaffirmed that transparent administration and rigorous monitoring through SEforALL’s Universal Energy Facility (UEF) IT portal will maintain the integrity of project implementation and fund utilization.
SOGREA builds on previous renewable energy projects and emphasizes the importance of strong public-private collaboration in delivering sustainable infrastructure. By integrating the Universal Energy Facility’s operational model, the initiative ensures a streamlined and transparent investment process that accelerates green mini-grid deployment. Ultimately, SOGREA aims to empower communities, including women, youth, and vulnerable groups, while encouraging private sector companies to invest in Sierra Leone’s clean energy transition. These investments are seen as key to unlocking rural economic growth and ensuring an inclusive, electrified future for the nation.
