Q: Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at CEIA.   

A: I’ve been with Triple Jump for 12 years, serving as COO for the past eight – overseeing Legal, Compliance, Risk, Finance, Operations, and IT. Before that, I spent 15 years primarily in product development with a ‘finance first’ Investment Manager. I’ve always enjoyed working on investment funds, especially those aiming for positive impact. 

The Board of CEI Africa is ultimately accountable for everything the Foundation does. We maintain oversight of the setup, execution, operations, and investment processes – monitoring progress and making adjustments as needed. We stay closely involved from a high-level perspective, while the day-to-day execution is handled by sector experts. 

CEI Africa’s mission resonates with me for several reasons: its bold aim to electrify Africa, the synergy of its three-pronged approach (SOF, RBF, and CL), and the innovative nature of the crowdlending Window. It’s an exciting mandate – watching it evolve and testing initial assumptions as the investment landscape rapidly shifts is particularly compelling. 

Q: What sets CEI Africa apart in tackling financing gaps in the off-grid and mini-grid energy sector?   

A: CEI Africa stands out in addressing financing gaps in the off-grid and green mini-grid energy sector through its long-term, flexible, and integrated approach. As a foundation, it provides long-term stability that traditional time-bound funds or donor projects often lack, ensuring sustained support for energy access initiatives. 

It functions as an integrated “one-stop shop,” offering a blend of debt, grants, equity instruments, and technical assistance – customized to meet each investee’s specific stage of development. This tailored support makes it more effective in meeting diverse financing needs. 

With a scalable, ready-to-go structure and governance already in place, CEI Africa can quickly absorb and deploy additional capital – enabling it to respond swiftly as funding opportunities arise. Moreover, its built-in market responsiveness allows it to adapt its financing tools to shifting market dynamics, ensuring relevance and impact as conditions evolve. 

Q: Are there strategic partnerships or stakeholder groups—local, regional, or global—that we should be prioritizing more to scale our mission and increase capital deployment?   

A: To scale CEI Africa’s mission and increase capital deployment, it is important to further prioritize strategic partnerships that enhance inclusivity and mobilize diverse sources of capital. Strengthening support for women-led and locally owned companies should remain a key focus. CEI Africa is already making progress by offering smaller ticket sizes below the usual minimum and providing tailored technical assistance to help these companies overcome specific challenges. Deepening these efforts can significantly improve access to finance for underrepresented groups in the sector. 

Additionally, expanding partnerships with crowdlending platforms presents a valuable opportunity to attract more private investors. These platforms can help mobilize retail capital at scale, bridging the gap between international investment interest and local energy access needs. By aligning more closely with such stakeholders, CEI Africa can accelerate both the pace and reach of its capital deployment. 

Q: How can CEI Africa contribute to de-risking investment in off-grid energy in fragile or frontier markets?   

A: CEI Africa can help de-risk investment in off-grid energy in fragile or frontier markets by offering blended finance tools that combine debt, equity and grants, reducing risk for private investors. It supports investees throughout the project cycle, providing flexible financing at different stages. Additionally, CEI Africa offers targeted technical assistance to strengthen operational capacity and project viability. Its patient capital, with longer tenors tailored to local market realities, further reduces pressure on early-stage companies and improves the overall risk-return profile for investors. 

Q: What role does digitalization play in shaping CEIA’s investment strategy and supporting portfolio companies?   

A: Digitalization plays a key role in CEI Africa’s investment strategy by enhancing transparency, efficiency, and impact monitoring. The Odyssey digital platform is especially impactful, offering remote monitoring and capturing a wide range of data that significantly supports our verification processes. Crowdlending platforms also benefit from digital tools, helping to connect and mobilize private investors more effectively. Additionally, our technical assistance supports investees and grantees in strengthening their IT systems, enabling them to operate more efficiently and meet reporting requirements. 

Q: What would you like CEI Africa to focus on more as we strive to balance financial sustainability with deep social and environmental impact?   

A: As CEI Africa balances financial sustainability with deep social and environmental impact, it’s important to maintain an “impact first” lens, even while adopting a more commercial mindset. Expanding the use of revolving capital windows can help extend the life and reach of donor contributions, increasing long-term impact. The focus should also remain on inclusive finance models that support both large and small players, ensuring broad access to capital. Lastly, being transparent about trade-offs and staying accountable to both investees and investors will help build trust and align expectations as the initiative grows. 

Q: Looking ahead, what opportunities and risks in the decentralized renewable energy space should CEI Africa be anticipating or preparing for?   

A: Looking ahead, CEI Africa should prepare to seize several key opportunities in the decentralized renewable energy space. There is growing emphasis on expanding energy access in fragile contexts, aligning with the peace-energy nexus. Demand is also increasing for climate-resilient infrastructure and locally anchored solutions, which CEI Africa is well-positioned to support. Additionally, advancements in digital platforms offer new ways to enable smarter, more transparent financing. 

At the same time, CEI Africa should remain alert to the risk of shifting donor priorities or declining funding in certain areas, which could impact long-term sustainability. Diversifying funding sources and reinforcing its value proposition will be crucial to navigating this challenge.