A United States initiative to increase electricity supply in Africa has been halted by the Donald Trump- led administration after more than a decade of work.
Almost all of Power Africa’s programs have been listed for termination and the majority of its staff fired, Bloomberg reported.
Some remaining programs, particularly those aimed at connecting projects with US companies, may be retained under other US agencies, said a person familiar with the matter.
“Each program is undergoing a review with the goal of restructuring assistance to serve US interests,” a State Department spokesperson said in a reply to questions. “Programs that serve our nation’s interests will continue. However, programs that aren’t aligned with our national interest will not.”
Power Africa operated under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
It was launched during former President Barack Obama’s administration with a clear mission: to add over 30,000 megawatts (MW) of cleaner, more efficient electricity generation capacity.
The program also aimed to deliver 60 million new home and business connections across the region.
The program provided technical and legal expertise while coordinating interactions between the private sector and government.
Its conclusion could slow efforts to boost power generation in sub-Saharan Africa, where over 600 million people still lack access to reliable electricity, according to the IEA.
The lack of sufficient access to reliable electricity is dramatically impacting the region by inhibiting economic growth.
Soon after Donald Trump came to power, his administration accused USAID of wasting taxpayer money.
He appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the agency’s acting administrator. He has also placed thousands of staff members on administrative leave.
Power Africa faced criticism early on because of slow progress.
According to its 2023 annual report, Power Africa made significant progress in expanding electricity access across the continent. The program contributed to 14,300 megawatts of capacity reaching financial close.
It also facilitated over 41 million new or improved connections for homes and businesses.
In addition, Power Africa deployed advisors across dozens of countries to support these efforts.
