HEALTH & SAFETY STANDARDS MAPPING REPORT: Enhancing Health & Safety Standards Across Africa’s Minigrid Sector

This report presents the findings of a mapping exercise regarding H&S standards in the minigrid sectors of Nigeria, Zambia, and Kenya. It analyzes the regulatory landscapes, highlighting that while all three nations have general safety laws, none possess minigrid-specific H&S regulations, leading to enforcement gaps. The study compares oversight mechanisms, noting Kenya’s multi-agency approach, Nigeria’s certification-driven model via NEMSA, and Zambia’s regulatory gaps for smaller projects.

The report incorporates perspectives from funders, revealing that H&S compliance is a critical factor for investment, with requirements often based on international standards like IFC Performance Standards and ISO 45001 due to local regulatory variability.

Key challenges identified include fragmented oversight, limited developer capacity, and a lack of central incident registries.

Key recommendations are outlined for both public and private stakeholders, with governments urged to develop sector-specific guidelines and incentives, and investors encouraged to support capacity building and the creation of unified reporting platforms.