By:
Nana Appiah Acquaye
The
Green Climate Fund has advanced the implementation of the ASCENT-GREEN
programme, a major regional initiative aimed at expanding clean and affordable
energy access across Eastern and Southern Africa.
According
to the Fund’s Executive Director, Mafalda Duarte, the programme is designed to
support energy access and clean cooking solutions for more than 40 million
people across 21 African countries.
The
initiative is supported by a $250 million commitment from the Green Climate
Fund, structured to mobilise more than $1 billion in additional financing from
partners including World Bank Group, private investors, and other development
institutions.
Duarte
said the programme reflects the growing role of blended climate and development
finance in supporting energy access for underserved and hard-to-reach
communities across the continent.
ASCENT-GREEN
is among the largest programmes under the Mission 300 initiative and is
expected to contribute to broader efforts aimed at accelerating sustainable
energy access, climate resilience, and economic development in Africa.
The
programme will focus on expanding access to reliable electricity and clean
cooking technologies while supporting the region’s wider climate transition and
sustainable development objectives.
