Energy and Environment Partnership Africa Trust Fund


Switzerland supports the Energy and Environment Partnership Africa Trust Fund to advance clean energy solutions in Zimbabwe. The project provides grants, business development support and investment facilitation to innovative private-sector actors that deliver clean energy services to vulnerable communities. This aligns with Switzerland’s interest to support climate change mitigation and inclusive economic development in Zimbabwe. 

Land/Region Thema Periode Budget
Simbabwe
Klimawandel & Umwelt
Inclusive economic Development
nothemedefined
Erzeugung erneuerbarer Energien
Schaffung von Arbeitsplätzen
KMU Förderung
01.12.2025 - 30.11.2029
CHF  4’850’000
Hintergrund Zimbabwe’s energy access remains critically low,  especially  in  rural  areas,  where  limited connections, frequent outages and climate-stressed  infrastructure undermine livelihoods and economic growth. While national policies support  renewable energy and green development, limited investment and weak  enforcement slow progress. The private sector, key to expanding clean energy, faces financing and operational barriers. EEP Africa, a regional initiative working across 17 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa  offers  a strategic  solution by supporting early-stage enterprises, derisking investment, and  promoting innovation. Its blended approach includes grants, business services, and  investment facilitation. Switzerland provides support for EEP Africa’s engagement  in Zimbabwe. EEP Africa empowers local businesses to deliver affordable, sustainable energy to underserved communities, which aligns with Switzerland’s development  priorities and interests, and Zimbabwe’s development goals. 
Ziele To contribute to poverty reduction, gender equality,  and the adoption of affordable,  climate-resilient clean energy solutions that empower vulnerable  communities and support inclusive, sustainable development in Zimbabwe. 
Zielgruppen

The direct beneficiaries are clean energy project developers, with a strong focus on women-led enterprises, who will gain access to financing, capacity building, and market opportunities. 

The secondary beneficiaries are vulnerable households, communities, and end users who will benefit from improved energy access, as well as  job seekers particularly women and youth who will access new employment opportunities in  the green energy sector. 

Mittelfristige Wirkungen

The expected outcomes of this project are: 

1. Increased availability and uptake of high-quality, affordable green energy solutions; 

2. Enhanced technical, business, and investment readiness of project developers; 

3. Enhanced investor engagement and market development; 

4. Successful scale-up of early-stage innovative projects. 

Resultate

Erwartete Resultate:  

▪ Deployment and financing mechanisms established to ensure widespread access  to affordable, reliable clean energy technologies and services. 

▪ Targeted capacity-building, incubation, and mentorship programmes delivered to strengthen the technical, business, and gender-responsive capabilities of clean energy developers. 

▪ Investor networks, matchmaking platforms, and market intelligence products created to connect developers with financiers and stimulate clean energy market growth. 

▪ High-potential pilot projects supported with technical assistance, and knowledge-sharing to expand proven clean energy solutions to new markets and communities. 


Resultate von früheren Phasen:  

• Supported 18 competitively selected renewable energy companies across Zimbabwe and Zambia to deploy innovative renewable energy solutions  and develop scalable business models. 

▪ Over 92,000 people in Zimbabwe and Zambia gained access to clean and reliable energy, advancing energy equity, improving livelihoods, and strengthening  resilience in underserved and off grid communities.  

▪ More than €12.3 million in climate finance was mobilized by investees, leveraging grants, equity, and other funding sources to scale clean energy and  climate resilience solutions across Zimbabwe and Zambia. 

▪ Supported companies achieved a cumulative reduction of 111,373 tons of CO2 emissions. 


Verantwortliche Direktion/Bundesamt DEZA
Projektpartner Vertragspartner
Internationale oder ausländische NGO
Privatsektor
  • Andere internationale oder ausländische NGO Norden
  • Ausländischer Privatsektor Süden/Osten
  • Nordic Development Fund


Koordination mit anderen Projekten und Akteuren

Donor partners: Austria, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and NDF itself 

Projects supported by SDC HQ; REPIC, COGEA, EnDev and Impact-Linked  Finance for Climate Action initiative 

Swiss-supported initiatives such as MASAP, U-RISE and OYE 

Budget Laufende Phase Schweizer Beitrag CHF    4’850’000 Bereits ausgegebenes Schweizer Budget CHF    0 Budget inklusive Projektpartner CHF    31’704’255 Projekttotal seit Anfangsphase Schweizer Beitrag CHF   8’908’451 Budget inklusive Projektpartner CHF   13’950’000
Projektphasen

Phase 2 01.12.2025 - 30.11.2029   (Active)

Phase 1 15.11.2021 - 30.11.2025   (Laufende Phase)