In a bold move to empower African entrepreneurs and drive inclusive economic growth, CLASP and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) have announced a $6.1 million expansion of the Productive Use Financing Facility (PUFF) — an initiative designed to supercharge access to energy-efficient, income-generating appliances across the continent.
This fresh investment marks a critical new phase in the PUFF initiative, which initially launched as a pilot from 2022 to 2024. Building on its resounding success, the upgraded PUFF 2.0 will scale its reach across Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Kenya, aiming to provide up to 10,000 solar-powered appliances to farmers, small businesses, and households.
Turning Energy into Opportunity
At the heart of the PUFF initiative lies a powerful vision: transforming electricity access into tangible economic outcomes. While electrification efforts across Africa have accelerated in recent years, many communities continue to face challenges in converting energy access into livelihoods.
“Access to energy is foundational for economic growth,” says Emmanuel Aziebor, Senior Director for Africa at CLASP. “Efficient appliances and equipment turn energy into opportunity and should be considered essential energy infrastructure, alongside renewables.”
PUFF supports a suite of technologies — including solar refrigerators, water pumps, milling machines, and other vital agricultural tools — that allow smallholder farmers, retailers, and service providers to boost productivity and profits. These modern, clean energy-powered appliances not only enhance output but also foster resilience in rural economies.
What PUFF 2.0 Brings to the Table
PUFF 2.0 offers grants, subsidies, and technical support to local manufacturers, distributors, and service providers. These interventions are designed to unlock business opportunities, lower retail prices, and make clean energy technologies more accessible to end-users in underserved communities.
Importantly, this phase aims to indirectly create more than 3,000 green jobs across value chains — from assembly and distribution to repair and maintenance — fueling an ecosystem of economic activity.
In addition to its economic targets, PUFF 2.0 doubles down on gender equality and youth empowerment. During the pilot, women made up nearly 50% of appliance buyers, and their households saw a 94% increase in average income. This momentum will be strengthened with targeted financing strategies that prioritise women and young entrepreneurs.
A Proven Model, Scaled Up
The initial PUFF pilot, conducted from 2022 to 2024, partnered with 24 companies across six emerging markets, distributing around 16,000 appliances and impacting over 58,000 households. The pilot validated the market viability of income-generating appliances and proved the effectiveness of innovative business models in expanding distribution networks.
Through this groundwork, PUFF demonstrated its capacity to strengthen local supply chains and expand markets for green technologies — a foundation that PUFF 2.0 now aims to solidify and scale.
“While electrification has expanded, many investments fail to turn access into economic opportunity,” notes Makena Ireri, GEAPP’s Managing Director for Productive Use of Energy. “Through initiatives such as PUFF 2.0, we are ensuring that new energy connections drive productivity, energise ambition in small and medium-sized enterprises, and power agricultural output in local manufacturing.”
Mission 300 and Beyond
PUFF 2.0 aligns closely with Mission 300, a transformative goal spearheaded by the World Bank, African Development Bank, Rockefeller Foundation, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), and GEAPP. This public-private initiative aims to connect 300 million people in Africa to electricity by 2030, with a strong focus on driving enterprise growth and job creation.
Together, CLASP and GEAPP are not just electrifying homes; they’re electrifying futures — empowering communities to grow businesses, create jobs, and improve livelihoods, all while championing sustainable development and climate action.
About the Partners
CLASP is a global nonprofit organisation recognised for its leadership in energy efficiency. With over 25 years of expertise, it works with governments, businesses, and development organisations to deploy high-impact appliance efficiency programs and policies.
GEAPP, on the other hand, is a coalition of philanthropic organisations, governments, financiers, and technology partners. Their shared mission: accelerate universal energy access while enabling inclusive economic growth and reducing global carbon emissions by four gigatons.
With PUFF 2.0, Africa is not just being connected to power; it’s being connected to possibility. And for thousands of entrepreneurs, farmers, and innovators — the future is looking bright, green, and full of energy.
For more on energy access, clean tech innovation, and enterprise development in Africa, stay tuned to our upcoming issues.