Quarterly Progress Report: West Africa Energy Program (WAEP)

The program's primary objective is to optimize the supply of power in the region, enable expanded end-user access to grid-based power, improve technical and institutional capacity of national utilities, and accelerate the establishment of a high-functioning regional power market. During the reporting period from October 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019, the WAEP team finalized its mobilization period and transitioned into the project implementation phase. Stakeholder engagement activities were conducted to inform and involve key stakeholders in the program's objectives and activities. Country and regional highlights were also documented, showcasing progress and achievements in specific countries and regions. Outcome 1 - Optimize the supply of power in West Africa - involved stakeholder engagement activities, including meetings with government officials, utility companies, and other stakeholders. Country and regional highlights included progress in Ghana, where the WAEP team worked with the Ghana Grid Company to develop a comprehensive energy plan. Activities and results included the development of a detailed energy plan, which is expected to increase power generation and reduce energy losses. Outcome 2 - Enable expanded end-user access to grid-based power that is reliable and affordable - also involved stakeholder engagement activities, including meetings with government officials, utility companies, and other stakeholders. Country and regional highlights included progress in Nigeria, where the WAEP team worked with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to develop a framework for prepaid metering. Activities and results included the development of a prepaid metering framework, which is expected to increase access to electricity for end-users. Outcome 3 - Improve technical and institutional capacity and performance of select national utilities - involved stakeholder engagement activities, including meetings with government officials, utility companies, and other stakeholders. Country and regional highlights included progress in Mali, where the WAEP team worked with the Mali Electricity Company to develop a comprehensive energy plan. Activities and results included the development of a detailed energy plan, which is expected to increase power generation and reduce energy losses. Outcome 4 - Accelerate the establishment of a high-functioning regional power market - involved stakeholder engagement activities, including meetings with government officials, utility companies, and other stakeholders. Country and regional highlights included progress in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region, where the WAEP team worked with ECOWAS to develop a framework for regional power trading. Activities and results included the development of a regional power trading framework, which is expected to increase power generation and reduce energy losses. Support functions and cross-cutting activities highlights included support to the Power Africa Coordinator's Office and USAID missions, collaboration with other USAID projects, communications and outreach, environmental status report, monitoring, evaluation, and learning, and gender strategy and integration. Operations, finance, and administration activities included operations highlights, program staffing highlights, and risk, challenges, and mitigation measures. Key activities for the next quarter included continued implementation of the program's objectives and activities, including stakeholder engagement, country and regional highlights, and support functions and cross-cutting activities.