Hello everyone!

The United States and France have long enjoyed an effective and productive partnership in many different areas, and advancing international development objectives is a key part of that collaboration.

France has a strong track record of supporting energy related activities in sub-Saharan Africa and focusing on energy infrastructure development as a means to support social and economic development.  So we are thrilled to partner with France as Power Africa works to achieve the goals of adding 30,000 MW and 60 million connections to Africa’s power sector by 2030.

Since President Obama first announced his ambitious goal to double access to electricity across sub-Saharan Africa in 2013, partnerships like this one have been at the core of how Power Africa does business.  And this declaration of intent confirms our shared commitment to catalyze investments and support private sector interventions to help lead Africa’s energy path towards economic and environmental sustainability.

Through this declaration, we commit to work together on critical areas, including but not limited to:

• increasing access to transaction advisors in Francophone West Africa;
• accelerating access to renewable energy in support of the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative;
• reaching out to French and U.S. companies to advance power deals in sub-Saharan Africa and
• supporting gender inclusivity in the power sector.

We know the road ahead will be a challenging one, but in partnership with France, other donor nations, African governments, the private sector, and civil society, we can help shape Africa’s energy path toward economic and environmental sustainability and ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. 

Merci beaucoup!