SOGREA moves forward in accelerating rural electrification in Sierra Leone
Discussion details
In June 2026, Sierra Leone took another major step towards universal, affordable and clean electricity access as the Salone Off-Grid Renewable Energy Acceleration (SOGREA) Initiative brought together pre-qualified private developers, government institutions, regulators and development partners to prepare for the deployment of green solar mini-grids across rural communities. Backed by a EUR 24 million grant from the European Union and Denmark, SOGREA is a key pillar of the Global Gateway commitment to deliver climate-resilient infrastructure in partner countries—strengthening connectivity, supporting inclusive growth and advancing the green transition where it matters most: in underserved communities.
Implemented by UNOPS, with its hosted entity Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), in partnership with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Energy, SOGREA is designed to crowd in private capital and accelerate rural electrification by reducing investment risk and improving commercial viability. Its model is straightforward: provide performance-based capital support to cover part of the upfront costs of mini-grid development, with payments released only once independently verified milestones are achieved. By bridging the gap between the true cost of supply and what households and small businesses can afford, the initiative aims to lower tariffs while expanding connections, reinforcing Sierra Leone’s ongoing sector reforms on regulation and transparent tariff setting.
At the June Bidders’ Workshop, H.E. Jacek Jankowski, EU Ambassador to Sierra Leone, highlighted "The EUR 22 million allocated to grant-based investment support for the private sector reflects the European Union's strong commitment to Sierra Leone's green transition, universal access to energy, and ambitious climate action under the EU Global Gateway Strategy. This workshop marks the point at which SOGREA moves from planning to implementation, and the European Union stands firmly behind this important step forward.”
Building on what works: lessons from the Rural Renewable Energy Project (RREP)
SOGREA builds on a strong foundation laid by earlier efforts to expand energy access, including the Rural Renewable Energy Project (RREP), implemented from October 2016 to December 2023 with UNOPS support. RREP demonstrated how decentralised renewable solutions can deliver tangible benefits when aligned with national priorities and local needs. By June 2024, RREP had installed 4.6 MW of generation capacity, electrifying 93 rural communities and connecting 22,649 households, businesses, schools, 100 Community Health Centres (CHCs) and other public institutions.
The project’s focus on social infrastructure showed the broader value of electrification beyond household lighting. With reliable solar power, CHCs could strengthen service delivery—supporting equipment use and refrigeration for medicines and vaccines, while improving conditions for care, including at night. Monitoring also pointed to increased utilisation of services following electrification, reflecting the difference that dependable power can make for community wellbeing.
RREP also helped test market-based approaches to long-term sustainability. A competitive selection process enabled private operators to bid to run village mini-grids, with selected companies signing Public-Private Partnership agreements in December 2018—an early signal that private sector participation is essential for reliable operations and maintenance over time.
Turning momentum into scale: what SOGREA changes
SOGREA takes these lessons and applies them to a faster, more scalable pathway. Following the pre-qualification process, the June Bidders’ Workshop focused on preparing private developers to submit site-specific proposals and successfully construct and operate green mini-grids. The programme covers both the development of new mini-grid sites in communities without electricity infrastructure and the expansion and upgrading of existing high-demand mini-grids.
By 2028, SOGREA aims to deliver more than 31,000 new electricity connections across at least 60 rural communities through EU-supported solar mini-grids, adding approximately 5.2 MW of solar generation capacity. The initiative will also support the expansion of existing high-demand mini-grid sites.
By linking support to verified delivery, aligning with national reforms, and putting private investment at the centre of the solution, SOGREA aims to become a benchmark model for rural electrification—helping Sierra Leone expand energy access, strengthen local economies and advance climate-resilient development across the country.
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