Thirty participants from various sectors, including the Ministries of Energy, Water and Mines, Health, Economy and Finance, along with technical and financial partners and private sector representatives, convened in Cotonou on February 26, 2025. The meeting was organized by ECOWAS as part of the Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP).
The workshop's primary focus was to present feasibility study results for electrifying 15 rural health centers in Benin using solar photovoltaic technology. Key reports discussed during the session included an inventory of electrical equipment at the selected health centers, their electricity needs assessment, and the sizing of solar photovoltaic generators for installation.
Another significant aspect addressed was designing a business model for electrifying public institutions. This involved identifying challenges related to payment systems for electrical services by the public sector and gauging private sector interest in a performance-based service model. Additionally, a strategy for implementing this model sustainably was developed.
ROGEAP is supported by World Bank financing amounting to nearly $340 million. It is executed by the ECOWAS Commission for developing a regional market for off-grid solar photovoltaic systems (component 1) and by the West African Development Bank (BOAD) for access to financing (component 2).
The project aims to enhance living conditions across 19 countries, including 12 ECOWAS member states, through sustainable energy solutions utilizing off-grid solar photovoltaic systems.
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