African Development Bank Workshop Advances Joint IPP Protocol to Accelerate Solar Projects in the Sahel

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has conducted a regional workshop to promote the application of the Joint Independent Power Producer (IPP) Protocol under its Desert to Power Initiative, aimed at accelerating the development of bankable solar projects across the Sahel.

The training, held following recommendations from the 5th Desert to Power Ministerial Meeting, focused on standardised contracts, risk management, and negotiation tools to reduce project preparation timelines. Participants included energy officials, legal experts, and utility representatives from Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Chad.

Mauritania shared its experience as the first country to implement the Joint IPP Protocol, noting that its inaugural IPP project with IWA Green Energy reached financial close in ten months. AfDB officials said the initiative supports the Mission 300 goal of electrifying 300 million people by 2030 and positioning the Sahel as a hub for sustainable solar energy development.