NEWS

• CLASP, an international NGO, and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) have announced a $6.1 million expansion of PUFF.
• The new phase of PUFF will support local manufacturers, distributors, and service providers in scaling up operations, reaching new markets, and growing their customer base.  

CLASP, an international NGO, and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) have announced a $6.1 million expansion of the Productive Use Financing Facility (PUFF). This catalytic initiative increases access to energy-efficient, income-generating appliances across Africa.

Specifically, the PUFF supports growing businesses, farmers, and communities in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Kenya by enabling them to acquire up to 10,000 income-generating appliances, such as solar-powered refrigerators, water pumps, milling machines, and other agricultural tools, at more affordable prices.

The facility provides grants, subsidies, and technical assistance to suppliers and distributors, unlocking new business opportunities for local enterprises and enabling them to meet the rising demand for clean energy-powered appliances. Small businesses, entrepreneurs, and households can purchase modern, energy-efficient technologies at favourable prices, allowing them to grow.

CLASP is the leading global authority on efficient appliances in fighting climate change and improving people’s lives. An international NGO with 25 years of expertise and offices on four continents, CLASP collaborates with policymakers, industry leaders, and other experts to create a more sustainable future for people and the planet.

Similarly, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) is an alliance of philanthropy, governments in emerging and developed economies, and technology, policy, and financing partners.

Together, their common mission is to enable low—and middle-income countries (LMICs) to shift to a clean energy, pro-growth model that accelerates universal energy access and inclusive economic growth while supporting the global community in meeting critical climate goals during the next decade. As an alliance, they aim to reduce four gigatons of future carbon emissions, expand clean energy access to one billion people, and enable 150 million new jobs.

This latest extension of PUFF builds on the success of a two-year pilot, which demonstrated the viability and increasing demand for productive use appliances across multiple African geographies. From 2022 to 2024, PUFF partnered with 24 companies across six emerging markets and developing countries (EMDEs). The pilot initiative maximised distribution networks, demonstrated the effect of innovative business models, and brought around 16,000 appliances to market.

The programme strengthened local supply chains and expanded access to income-generating equipment, reaching over 58,000 households and validating the market potential for pioneering green technologies.

Emmanuel Aziebor, Senior Director for Africa at CLASP, said, “Access to energy is foundational for economic growth. Efficient appliances and equipment turn energy into opportunity and should be considered essential energy infrastructure, alongside renewables. PUFF’s pilot phase proved that targeted support can deliver material impact and positive change. With effective financing, companies can reach more people with the right appliances and change lives.”

Notably, in the pilot, women made up nearly half of all appliance buyers. Households where women bought appliances saw a 94 per cent increase in average income. Going forward, this extension will focus even more on gender equality and youth empowerment by enhancing outreach and financing strategies that centre the needs of women and young entrepreneurs.

Building on this momentum, CLASP and GEAPP are deepening their partnership to increase access to affordable energy technologies. The new phase of PUFF will support local manufacturers, distributors, and service providers in scaling up operations, reaching new markets, and growing their customer base. By doing so, PUFF 2.0 aims to catalyse enterprise growth, expand market availability of efficient technologies, and indirectly create over 3,000 green jobs across the value chain.

Despite their transformative potential, income-generating appliances remain out of reach for many people, particularly those in low-income communities. High costs and limited financing options make it difficult for businesses and households to afford them.

To address this gap, PUFF offers businesses the support needed to lower prices, reach more customers, and grow over time.

“While electrification has expanded, many investments fail to turn access into economic opportunity, with limited job creation or enterprise growth. Through initiatives such as PUFF 2.0 and our collaboration with CLASP, we are addressing these shortfalls by ensuring that new energy connections drive productivity and power agriculture, energising ambition in small and medium-sized enterprises, and output in local manufacturing.

“Increased incomes from these activities spur economic growth and wellbeing in growing communities, creating jobs and improving the quality of life,” said Makena Ireri, Managing Director for Productive Use of Energy at GEAPP.

Importantly, PUFF 2.0 aligns with Mission 300, a public-private-philanthropic ambition led by the World Bank and the African Development Bank with support from GEAPP, the Rockefeller Foundation, and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL). The goal is to connect 300 million people to electricity in Africa by 2030 while driving economic growth and job creation.