Power Africa Stories

A Day in the Dark

Exploring life in Africa without access to electricity: When President Obama launched Power Africa, we started thinking a lot about what a day in the “dark” would look like. We spent a full day on the outskirts of Nairobi to see for ourselves what life without electricity means and how it impacts the lives of the people we met. Here’s our photo diary from sunrise to sunset. Read More

Teresia Turns on the Light

Teresia Olotai knows that life can be hard for Maasai women. When the sun goes down, their responsibilities remain, but the obstacles grow. That all changed in 2013 when Power Africa arrived. Electricity has brought more than just light to Lobulu bona. It’s given the Maasai a door to the world. Read More

 

Biogas Turns Trash to Treasure

Is one man’s waste, another man’s power? If you ask Kenyan entrepreneur, Amos Nguru, the answer is yes. While solar and wind power are popular sustainable energy sources in Africa, Amos is hedging his bets on another source - biogas, a byproduct of human waste. At his home in Kiserian, Amos elevates bio-digesting —- or the breakdown of waste byproducts into biogas that can be converted to energy, into a sustainable art form. Read More

USAID Powers Bomas in Tanzania 

Tanzania‘s rural population makes up almost 70 percent of the country. Of this rural population, just one out of 10 have access to electricity. Power Africa is supporting new photovoltaic “micro-grids” for Maasai bomas, or settlements. With power for the first time, children can study at night, cell phones can be charged in case of emergencies, refrigerators used to keep medicine and milk cold and used to deter intruders from a community‘s cattle at night. See More

Storify: POTUS in Africa

In July 2015, President Obama spent four days in Kenya and Ethiopia to see how U.S. development efforts -- including those of USAID -- have helped transform communities by accelerating economic growth, strengthening democratic institutions and improving security. See highlights from the trip.

Behind the Lens: Photographing the President in Kenya, again

Chief Official White House Photographer, Pete Souza, documents President Obama’s trip to Kenya in July 2015, which included a visit to the Power Africa Innovation Fair in Nairobi. Read More

Videos

White House Video: President Obama visits the Power Africa Innovation Fair President Obama speaks during his visit to the Power Africa Innovation Fair on July 25, 2015. Watch

Electricity 101 Explains the key pillars of the power sector in sub-Saharan Africa and shows the basics and challenges of the electricity sector in developing countries. Watch

How Can you Learn in the Dark? Students are often forced to read and learn in the dark as candles on wooden desks can be too dangerous. Watch

Would you go to a Hospital with no Electricity? The greatest challenge for urgent care is a lack of power. An emergency room nurse explains. Watch

Power Africa Two out of three people in sub-Saharan Africa lack access to electricity. Watch

Photo Gallery

Virunga Power

Visit the Power Africa Flickr site

Infographics

Infographic: Energy for Africa