USAID SAEP – MADAGASCAR COUNTRY PROFILE

Madagascar's lack of access to reliable energy has hindered its economic and social development, with outdated infrastructure and frequent power outages putting pressure on the Government of Madagascar to find solutions. To address this issue, SAEP has been focusing on developing and implementing rural electrification strategies and supporting the Agency for Rural Electrification Development (ADER) in improving its tender process. SAEP has been working with private sector companies to develop and expand on- and off-grid projects. One such company is EOSOL Madagascar, a woman-owned Malagasy mini-grid developer, which has received technical advisory support from SAEP to build a robust project finance model for tender submission and to secure private investment. SAEP has also contributed to the expansion of a leading solar home system (SHS) distributor by compiling business analysis reports that include recommendations on sales growth, staff and agent productivity, product expansion, and distribution strategies. In addition to supporting private sector companies, SAEP has been working to strengthen the technical capacity of engineering students at the University of Antananarivo who have an interest in pursuing careers in renewable energy and rural electrification. Students learn about the development and implementation of electrification projects through practical exposure, lectures, and seminars. This capacity building initiative aims to contribute to the Malagasy power industry by providing students with the skills and knowledge needed to design and implement electrification projects. Rural electrification is a key focus area for SAEP in Madagascar, with the majority of the rural population lacking access to electricity. SAEP has been assessing rural electrification approaches that will assist energy sector players in designing relevant and implementable electrification interventions with a high potential to bring new megawatts online and increase connections. One such activity involves assisting ADER with rehabilitation and hybridization of abandoned diesel mini-grids. SAEP has also engaged the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) fellows based in Madagascar as part of a knowledge exchange and work skills program, which has assisted with data collection and analysis related to affordability and willingness to pay assessments in Madagascar for SHS and mini-grid markets. The USAID Southern Africa Energy Program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in support of the U.S. Government's Power Africa initiative. Power Africa's more than 130 private and public sector partners have committed over $52 billion to mobilize and organize international efforts to electrify Africa. USAID supports Power Africa through programs that bring together technical and legal experts, the private sector, and governments from around the world to work in partnership to increase the number of people with access to power.