SOGREA Opens Call for Developers to Expand Rural Mini-Grids in Sierra Leone

The Salone Off-Grid Renewable Energy Acceleration (SOGREA) Initiative has opened its first Call for Pre-Qualification Applications, inviting private sector developers to build and upgrade green mini-grids in rural communities across Sierra Leone.

The programme, backed by €24 million in funding from the European Union and the Government of Denmark, aims to accelerate access to clean and affordable electricity while reducing investment risks for renewable energy developers. The announcement was made in Freetown on 26 January during an event marking the International Day of Clean Energy, hosted by Sustainable Energy for All.

Implemented in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone, SOGREA is designed to crowd in private capital through performance-based financing that supports a portion of upfront development costs for green mini-grids. Payments will be released against independently verified milestones, helping to improve the commercial viability of rural electrification projects.

The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between the cost of electricity supply and what rural households and businesses can afford, while expanding connections and lowering tariffs. It builds on recent reforms in Sierra Leone’s mini-grid sector, including updated regulations and transparent tariff-setting frameworks intended to provide long-term certainty for investors.

Eligible applicants include licensed, for-profit mini-grid developers registered to operate in Sierra Leone, with experience delivering green mini-grids in sub-Saharan Africa. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to deliver projects within 12 months, integrate smart metering, comply with Universal Energy Facility requirements, and maintain at least 30 per cent female representation across administrative and operational roles.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with the pre-qualification window closing on 9 March 2026. Successful applicants will be invited to submit site-specific proposals for new or upgraded mini-grid projects, with funding allocated on a first-come, first-served basis until resources are exhausted.

The programme is implemented by UNOPS, with Sustainable Energy for All as host entity, in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone.