African agrivoltaics platform launches to unlock project pipelines and finance

By African Agrivoltaics Platform Initiative

04/24/2026

The initiative was introduced during a workshop at OECD headquarters, organized by the Consortium for Sustainable Agrivoltaics (C4SA) Foundation, OECD’s Development Centre, AKADEMIYA2063 and the UN Joint SDG Fund. The event brought together government representatives, development finance institutions, investors, researchers and private-sector actors to define a coordinated approach to agrivoltaics deployment. The platform aims to address persistent barriers to scale, including limited access to finance, regulatory uncertainty, weak project pipelines and gaps in technical capacity and data availability.

Focus on bankability and scale

Participants emphasized that while agrivoltaics is gaining traction globally, deployment in Africa remains at an early stage. Evidence from pilot projects suggests potential to improve land-use efficiency, support agricultural productivity, enhance climate resilience and expand distributed solar generation. However, translating these outcomes into bankable projects remains a central challenge.

Discussions focused on the need to structure agrivoltaics as an investable asset class. This includes developing standardized project models, improving data on agronomic and energy performance, and aligning system design with local farming practices and market conditions. A key proposal explored during the workshop was the creation of a blended finance facility dedicated to agrivoltaics in Africa. Such a vehicle could support early-stage development, provide risk mitigation tools and mobilize private capital alongside public and concessional funding. The African Development Bank signaled interest in and support for growing the sector, highlighting agrivoltaics as aligned with broader efforts to expand energy access and strengthen the food-energy-water nexus.

Platform structure and priorities

The AAPI is intended to support participating governments in developing policy frameworks while facilitating coordination with non-governmental partners. In addition to supporting member governments, it will be supported by three working groups covering evidence and capacity-building, project finance and agri-solar business development. A core objective is to build a pipeline of bankable projects across different agro-ecological zones, supported by concessional finance, improved research and data, technical standards and local capacity. Government engagement during the launch indicated interest in aligning agrivoltaics with African regional and national priorities, including food security strategies, energy transition plans and international and climate commitments. C4SA President Chris Hegadorn, pointing to the negative impacts of the closure of the Straits of Hormuz, including higher food, fuel, and fertilizer prices for African consumers, noted the high potential for agrivoltaics to foster Africa’s food and energy sovereignty while helping to adapt to and mitigate climate change.

Ensuring Food and Nutrition Security

Zero Hunger and a 30 percent reduction in child stunting, wasting, and overweight are also central targets of the Declaration, with countries like Malawi, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana offering lessons on how to achieve them. By integrating production policies with nutrition-sensitive interventions, these countries have stabilized demand for nutritious foods and strengthened local markets. Effective measures include linking schools with local farmers, investing in biofortification, and establishing nutrition-focused social safety nets. Crucially, success has hinged on coordinated action across agriculture, health, and education ministries, breaking down traditional silos.

Advancing Inclusivity and Equitable Livelihoods

Reducing extreme poverty and narrowing the gender yield gap by half across Africa will depend on reforms that prioritize equitable access. Evidence from Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, and Zimbabwe indicates that empowering women and youth through greater direct participation and ownership in agrifood systems yields tangible gains in productivity and income. In Rwanda and Zimbabwe, youth-focused agribusiness programs and digital innovation hubs have enabled young people to transition from informal, low-productivity work to higher-value roles along agrifood value chains.

Partnerships and early-stage activity

Numerous partnerships were announced alongside the launch, spanning training, research and project development. These include planned agrivoltaics training programs in West and East Africa, collaboration on evidence generation and technical guidelines, and early-stage project development initiatives in multiple countries. Private-sector participants signaled interest in supporting project pipelines and participating in the platform’s working groups. Discussions included the potential development of dedicated investment vehicles, including a potential venture capital fund focused on agrivoltaics opportunities in African markets. The initiative builds on international policy momentum, including a G7 commitment in Pescara, Italy in 2024 to support agrivoltaics partnerships with Africa.

Participants called upon the G7 to honor its commitment, and pointed to the need for near-term implementation, particularly in the context of upcoming international engagements such as the May, 2026 France-Africa Summit to be held in Nairobi, Kenya and the G7 Summit in France.

Next steps

The platform will now move to formalize its governance structure, launch its working groups and expand participation among African governments and financial partners. Resource mobilization and pipeline development are expected to be immediate priorities. For developers and investors, the success of the initiative will depend on its ability to translate coordination into execution—particularly in structuring projects that meet both agricultural and energy performance requirements while achieving commercial viability. The launch of AAPI reflects a shift toward more structured market development for agrivoltaics in Africa, with a focus on standardization, financing mechanisms and scalable project pipelines. Inquiries on the Platform can be directed to: Consortium4SA@gmail.com.

 

Firs published on pv magazine

AKADEMIYA2063 was represented at the launch by Dr. Debisi Araba, Managing Director