The Western Africa Region is the largest PFAN sub-region in Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of projects, with more than 75 projects in West Africa having received PFAN support since 2017.
To continue high-quality project support and investment facilitation, considering the requirements of investors, PFAN has managed to establish two important partnerships with banks in the region. The partnership agreement with Fidelity Bank Ghana recognizes the respective strengths of the parties, where the bank has started referring projects to PFAN to evaluate, prepare and “recondition” and for the supported projects to be sent back to the bank for financing.
Additionally, PFAN has established a partnership with the West African Development Bank (BOAD), a development finance institution that promotes the development of its member countries and fosters economic integration within West Africa by financing priority development projects.
The Covid-19 pandemic affected the way PFAN conducted its activities in the region, especially regarding roadshows that provide the platform for our services to be promoted to entrepreneurs. However, PFAN was able to conduct several virtual outreach events with more than 50 participants. These events served a dual purpose: to inform entrepreneurs about PFAN services and also to build their capacity on developing good business plans and financial models.
Western Africa in 2020
Total investment leveraged (USD)
575000
Projects that reached financial closure
3
Total Advisors
27
Female Advisors
7
Locally-based Advisors (%)
85
Total number of projects supported
19
New partnerships established
2
Total number of projects supported by country
Financial closure spotlight
Location
Burkina Faso
Investment Amount
6,700,000 USD
Technology
Solar Energy
Meet our Network in Western Africa
PFAN Advisor - Ujunwa Ojemeni
Ujunwa Ojemeni is an impact investing, energy and development expert with experience in the areas of opportunity maturation, financing, and policy focused on driving the achievement of SDG 7 in Africa by 2030 and an advocate for gender inclusivity/equal representation in the energy sector.
At the Office of the Honourable Commissioner for Energy & Mineral Resources Lagos State, she drives policies, investments opportunities and implementation strategies to deliver reliable energy to the citizens of the State.
Ujunwa has coordinated several energy projects as well as energy funds worth over $1 Billion and was previously at Axxela Limited (energy infrastructure project development) and All On (off-grid energy access investing).
In 2020, Ujunwa was appointed to the Advisory Board of the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN). She has received several awards for her phenomenal work in the energy sector including the 2020 Energy leader by the Energy Institute, and the 2019 Young Leaders Award in the Energy and Sustainability category by the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association in Nigeria. In 2019, she was selected as one of 60 young African Clean Energy Leaders by Enel Foundation, and was also a finalist at the IFC Sustainability Exchange Contest in 2019.
Ujunwa is the founder of the African Women in Energy Development Initiative (AWEDI) focused on promoting the growth of women in the sector through mentorship programs, career sponsorship (acceleration), networking opportunities, professional development and leadership training for women at all stages of their energy careers and for female students at the secondary and tertiary levels.
Regional Coordinator - Albert Boateng
Albert is an experienced renewable energy finance expert and transactions advisor. He joined PFAN as a coach in 2013 and became the Regional Coordinator the following year. As regional coordinator, he supports project development and finance facilitation across West Africa. The region covers 15 countries, and more than 200 projects have been coached.
Albert’s role includes connecting projects to coaches, providing guidance to the coaches, building relationships with network partners and growing the network in the region. Prior to this role, he was the Regional Director of Persistent Energy Partners, a clean energy investment company. He oversaw the investment and portfolio development of PEP’s West Africa operations including pipeline development, investment appraisal, transactions structuring, asset management and implementation of exit/liquidation strategies.
Albert holds an MBA from Boston College, Massachusetts, USA and is a Certified Expert in Climate and Renewable Energy Finance (CECREF).
Country Coordinators
Burkina Faso – Maiga Bintou
Cote d’Ivoire – Pierre Claver Kouakou
Ghana – Agnes Ansah Osei
Liberia – Wilson Idahor
Mali – Djigui Diallo
Nigeria – Olugbolahan Mark-George
Senegal / Guinea – Antoine Faye
Sierra Leone – Aminata Dumbuya
Togo / Benin – Sena Ayenu
