African Development Bank Launches $20 Million Green Hydrogen Funding to Boost Africa’s Clean Energy
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced a $20 million funding initiative aimed at accelerating green hydrogen projects across Africa. Unveiled on April 8, 2026, via the bank’s official website, the funding will support early-stage development of promising projects under the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA). Selected initiatives could receive up to $20 million in pre-investment financing, with three to five projects expected to be shortlisted following rigorous due diligence.
This programme is part of AfDB’s broader strategy to position green hydrogen as a driver of industrial decarbonisation and economic growth across the continent. Dr. Daniel Schroth, Director of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at AfDB, described green hydrogen as a unique opportunity for Africa to cut emissions in hard-to-decarbonise sectors while creating new industrial value chains that stimulate socio-economic development.
“The SEFA Green Hydrogen Programme is structured to help projects progress from early development stages to full investment readiness, reflecting the technical and financial rigor required in this emerging sector,” Dr. Schroth explained. The application window opens on April 10, 2026, at 09:30 GMT and closes on May 11, 2026, at 17:00 Abidjan time.
The programme targets three main areas of clean energy solutions. These include green baseload projects such as solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass, which aim to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and stabilize electricity supply. Green mini-grids are also a key focus, providing decentralized electricity to rural and underserved communities. Finally, the programme emphasizes energy efficiency, promoting smarter energy use across industries and households through technologies like electric mobility and clean cooking solutions.
AfDB has a strong track record in supporting renewable energy across Africa. Previous SEFA investments include a $10 million equity contribution to the ARM-Harith Successor Infrastructure Equity Fund and a $5.65 million grant for mini-grid projects in 14 countries, benefiting nearly 856,000 people. With over 570 million Africans still lacking access to electricity, initiatives like the SEFA Green Hydrogen Programme are vital to powering the continent sustainably while driving industrial growth.
source: nairametrics