“Energy poverty is no longer a technical problem—it is a financing and coordination failure that clean energy solutions are ready to solve.”

On this International Clean Energy Day, WICE sits down with former USAID Power Africa leads Gina Cady and Christina Cairns to explore the current challenges, opportunities and solutions for expanding access to renewable energy globally.

1. “What does 'clean energy' mean for communities that have no energy at all?"

   
   

For the 650 to 750 million people living without reliable electricity - roughly half of them in Africa - 'clean energy' isn't an aspirational upgrade; it's often the first and only viable path to power. For off-grid and underserved communities, clean energy solutions like solar are often more practical and affordable than extending traditional grids. Energy access and clean energy aren't competing priorities - they're the same fight.

Imagine not being able to refrigerate food or medicine for your child. Unable to study after sunset. Running a business without power tools, computers, or reliable lighting. This is daily reality for these communities. And without access to clean alternatives, they resort to burning forests for charcoal and firewood, damaging both their health and environment.

While we've made progress expanding off-grid solar in Africa and extending grids in Asia over the last two decades, 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa alone still lack access. The recent shutdown of USAID and the Power Africa initiative, which funded these clean energy projects and technical assistance, makes an already difficult challenge even steeper.

2. “Speaking of which, it’s nearing one year since the shutdown of USAID and the Power Africa initiative. Are you seeing any impacts of that pullback?”

   
   

Unfortunately yes, the abruptness to the closure of USAID resulted in major disruptions, including large and small power projects that didn’t receive the necessary de-risking to reach financial close or country energy compacts that now struggle to achieve their ambitious goals without technical assistance. Fortunately, other non-USG agencies and philanthropic partners have stepped in to continue much of the work of Power Africa, such as the World Bank and African Development Bank through the Mission 300 initiative.

But some cross-cutting USAID programs have almost completely stalled, such as the Health Electrification and Telecommunication Alliance (HETA), which was created by Power Africa and the Global Health Bureau at USAID during the COVID pandemic to provide up to 10,000 health facilities with electricity (for cold storage, medical equipment and other productive uses) and digital connectivity. Intergovernmental and faith-based organizations - SEforALL, the World Health Organization, Catholic Relief Services - are working to sustain these efforts, but they can't replace the scale and coordination that U.S. government funding and leadership provided. Budget cuts mean scaled-back programs just when demand is rising.

3. “You mention electrifying health clinics as a priority of Power Africa - what's the direct connection between electricity and healthcare?"

   
   

Electricity is foundational to virtually every aspect of modern healthcare. It powers lights for surgeries and nighttime deliveries allowing facilities to provide services 24/7 rather than just daylight hours. It runs the cold chain that keeps vaccines, blood products, and medicines viable to help prevent disease and outbreak. It enables diagnostic equipment - from basic thermometers and blood pressure monitors to X-rays and ultrasounds. It is a foundational piece to support USG health investments and secure their success. Increasingly, it's essential for health data systems that track patient records, disease surveillance, and medication inventory to monitor health impacts in near real time. You cannot have data without reliable energy access.

Without reliable power, all of this collapses. In Sierra Leone the reality is sobering across both urban and rural settings. In rural areas where only 5% of the population has electricity, women give birth by candlelight with basic medical tools. But even urban hospitals connected to the grid face constant blackouts and brownouts that shut down operating rooms mid-surgery, spoil refrigerated medications, and wipe out digital patient records. HETA partners, such as Resolve, told us that facilities spend huge portions of their budgets on diesel generators and fuel just to maintain basic operations.

This is where clean energy solutions become critical. Solar installations with battery backup provide the reliable 24/7 power that health facilities desperately need - whether they're off-grid rural clinics or urban hospitals struggling with an unreliable grid. These systems can be deployed in weeks rather than years and dramatically reduce operating costs. But they require the upfront investment and technical support that government funding was designed to provide.

4. "So is lack of public sector financing the biggest barrier to energy access in Africa?"

   
   

It’s a huge obstacle but it’s not insurmountable. There was a heavy focus by USAID in recent years on private sector engagement given that development assistance funding (i.e. government spending) was always falling short of demand; we knew that private sector partners were essential to reach any Sustainable Development Goal. As an example, HETA actually leveraged $25 million in USAID funding to secure 3x in private investment for health facility electrification. In less than 2 years it connected more than 1,000 facilities and was building innovative models for scale and sustainability. We are in the process of figuring out ways to carry forward this work; even without USAID’s funding and technical assistance, there are still mechanisms to engage the private sector and capitalize on expanding clean energy access in health and other development sectors like agriculture.

5. "Any examples of this?"

   
   

One innovative financing tool we explored through HETA to expand access to renewable energy is the use of renewable energy credits (RECs). RECs translate clean electricity generation into a verifiable, tradable asset, typically representing one megawatt-hour of renewable power and the associated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Working with the firm Powertrust, we examined how REC revenues could provide a durable source of funding for the operation and maintenance of solar- and battery-powered systems, particularly for health clinics and schools that often lack stable public financing. By monetizing the clean energy they produce, these facilities can keep the lights on over the long term, strengthen their financial footing, and unlock new investment to expand their operations and even support other productive uses of that energy.

At the same time, companies such as Microsoft purchase RECs to meet corporate climate commitments in the markets where they operate, while supporting local energy systems that drive economic growth. This model incentivizes global companies to meet climate commitments while also strengthening local economies (thereby increasing customer purchase power) and enabling essential public services to become more resilient without relying on perpetual aid. When renewable energy becomes both a climate solution and a revenue-generating asset, the false choice between development and decarbonization disappears. That is the real win-win: climate action that pays for itself and delivers tangible benefits where energy access matters most.

6. "What do you think needs to be taken forward in providing energy access in 2026?"

   
   

2026 is a pivotal year. There is still substantial momentum and a proven pipeline of energy access initiatives started under Power Africa, HETA, and other USAID-led efforts—but the needed capital and coordination must now move faster than institutions. The challenge is no longer a lack of viable projects or capable local partners; it is the absence of catalytic capital and trusted intermediaries willing to step into the space USAID once occupied.

The path forward lies in smarter capital stacking. Shorter-term concessional debt or equity from impact-oriented investors can provide bridge financing and bring projects to scale, while grant funding from donors and philanthropies can continue to support technical assistance and affordability. Development finance institutions remain critical for risk mitigation—through guarantees, insurance, and first-loss capital—to crowd in larger pools of private investment. Blended finance structures, paired with revenue mechanisms such as RECs, can materially lower risk and improve long-term sustainability.

This is where organizations like WICE play a critical role. Formed by former USAID staff, WICE helps investors and philanthropies translate ambition into execution—ground-truthing projects, assessing implementation readiness, and connecting capital to vetted local partners. This combination of institutional knowledge, local context, and financial structuring capability is essential to restoring confidence and accelerating deployment. With the right mix of capital and expertise, we have everything needed to significantly expand energy access, strengthen essential services, and drive inclusive economic growth—without rebuilding the system from scratch.

WICE is a global, women-owned network of development professionals dedicated to advancing health and sustainable agri-food systems, food security, social impact, and environmental stewardship.  Originally founded in 1989, WICE has evolved to manage complex development programs and champion innovation across climate resilience, food security, and humanitarian assistance. WICE remains committed to driving progress through technical expertise and collaborative action.