EEP Africa Secures Additional EUR 5 Million Funding from Switzerland to Accelerate Clean Energy Access

Helsinki – The Energy and Environment Partnership Trust Fund (EEP Africa) has received an additional EUR 5 million from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) to accelerate clean energy access across Zimbabwe and beyond.

This contribution supports SDC’s strategic focus on climate resilience and sustainable development, enabling EEP Africa to expand its portfolio of innovative renewable energy projects. The partnership aligns with Switzerland’s International Cooperation Strategy 2025–2028, which prioritises climate change mitigation, energy access, and inclusive economic growth. It also advances progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Access to clean, reliable energy is a cornerstone of sustainable development. Through our new contribution to EEP Africa, Switzerland is supporting innovative, private-sector driven clean energy solutions that improve livelihoods, strengthen resilience and accelerate climate action in Zimbabwe and beyond. Besides enhancing energy access, EEP Africa’s strength lies in its well-tailored support that helps local entrepreneurs bringing their ideas to fruition and scale,” said Stefano Berti, Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Switzerland in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe faces increasingly severe climate impacts, including droughts, heatwaves, and floods. Around 70% of the population depends on agriculture, with more than half living in underserved rural areas where access to reliable energy and climate-resilient infrastructure remains limited. Urban and peri-urban centres also struggle with persistent energy supply challenges that constrain small businesses and productive activities. In this context, Zimbabwe has a growing cohort of young, locally rooted entrepreneurs developing renewable energy solutions that strengthen climate adaptation, generate income, and build resilience at the community and enterprise levels.

“In Zimbabwe, we see great innovation emerging in some of the most constrained economic conditions. Young entrepreneurs are building clean energy solutions that power agricultural production, preserve food, support small businesses, and strengthen community resilience, often with very limited access to early-stage capital. Switzerland’s continued support enables EEP Africa to back these locally led enterprises at a critical stage, providing not just financing, but the confidence and runway needed for home-grown solutions to scale sustainably,” said Chiedza Mazaiwana, EEP Africa Portfolio Manager.

The Energy and Environment Partnership Trust Fund (EEP Africa) is a clean energy financing facility hosted and managed by the Nordic Development Fund (NDF) with funding from Austria, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, NDF, Norway, and Switzerland. EEP Africa provides risk tolerant early-stage grant financing for locally driven innovative clean energy projects and businesses in Southern and Eastern Africa.