Our Core Pillars
1. Deliver Member Value
We support minigrid developers to become sustainable businesses with strong corporate governance.
AMDA’s Member Engagement team designs and implements programs and services that seek to make members’ lives easier, either by helping them save money or make more money. The Member Engagement team helps translate the value of AMDA’s other core pillars (Access to Capital; Policy, Regulatory & Regional Coordination; and Research, Data & Standards) to our members.
Existing and prospective members dream of achieving a herculean task such as universal electricity access, but they are constantly hitting roadblocks, including slow government processes; slow and inconsistent funding streams; being asked to show results with little to no support; and struggling with challenges of finding or retaining quality human capital. They do the heavy lifting of bridging the energy access gap, and they don’t get a lot of help. AMDA is the organization trying to help them and lift them up.
We are the only industry association focused exclusively on the minigrid industry. We offer services that are designed by and for minigrid companies as well as suppliers and solution providers. We understand your needs; We hear you; We are here for you.
2. Access to Capital
We support minigrid companies’ scaling-up initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa by addressing key challenges limiting their fundraising capabilities. We employ unique programs to counter these challenges, facilitate dialogue with funders and private investors to attract deeper pools of patient capital in the sector, and advocate for innovative financing instruments and models. Additionally, we map out key investors and funding opportunities for our members.
AMDA Capital Connect – This program addresses one of the most critical challenges in the minigrid sector: limited access to affordable long-term patient capital. This session will offer a unique mentorship opportunity for minigrid developers to prepare them for direct engagement with private sector investors. Developers receive tailored support to become investment-ready from private investors and development financial partners. This support includes: pitch coaching, investment strategy development, understanding the fundraising process, refining financial models, and deal structuring advice. At the end of the mentorship, participants present their projects to a curated group of private sector investors with a minigrid investment focus.
Mastering Finance Series Workshop – This is a series of practical, interactive sessions led by financial advisory experts to equip minigrid developers with the financial acumen, knowledge, and tools required to develop and secure funding for their projects and support their scaling-up initiatives. The workshops are held in a hybrid mode (Physical and virtual) depending on the complexity of the topic under discussion.
Investor Database—This comprehensive database summarizes the key investors in the sector, their ticket sizes, focus financial instruments, and how developers can apply for funding. It offers minigrid developers an opportunity to focus on investors matching their financial needs and requirements, saving developers’ effort and time. This database is a member-only resource and can be accessed through AMDA’s Member Engagement team at membership@africamda.org.
As a sector leader, AMDA seeks to work with all stakeholders to expand access to affordable long-term patient capital for minigrid companies to promote universal energy access and socio-economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa.
3. Policy, Regulatory & Regional Coordination
The Policy, Regional & Regulatory pillar engages with policy makers, regulators and government stakeholders through effective communications, dialogue and advocacy campaigns to ensure an enabling environment for the sustainable development of minigrids at scale. Through our regional coordinators, we provide on-the-ground support to developers in the various regions we cover (presently East Africa, Francophone Afrique, West Africa & Southern Africa).
Minigrids are a cost effective and viable means to end energy poverty in Africa by 2030. It is imperative that all stakeholders (especially governments) work with AMDA towards the achievement of scale and development of the minigrid sector. The sector will only scale at the pace of which we all act and for as long as we stay on the same page.
AMDA strives to be a “partner in progress”. The Energy Access issue is not a problem that can be tackled by one institution alone. All stakeholders need to be unified in the goal of eliminating the energy deficit across the continent.
4. Research, Data & Standards
We serve as the reference point and source of reliable data & information on the private sector minigrids in Africa to support evidence-based decision making on the continent. We also work to standardise the sector to promote sustainable development of minigrids at scale.
AMDA is committed to improving the policy and financial environment for private minigrid companies. AMDA’s flagship publication, the Benchmarking Africa’s Minigrid Report (BAM) provides a broad database of industry performance as well as expert advice and recommendations on best practices and industry needs for the sector.