Nineteen companies in Ethiopia, Kenya and Nigeria have received $1.5 million in funding to expand access to solar-powered appliances for small businesses and entrepreneurs, in a move aimed at increasing productivity and creating green jobs.
The support was announced in Nairobi on July 6, 2026, through the Productive Use Financing Facility, which is managed by CLASP and backed by the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. The funding will help the companies deploy 3,800 productive-use appliances such as solar pumps, refrigeration units and milling equipment.
Five Ethiopian firms, six Kenyan companies and eight Nigerian businesses were selected for the grant. CLASP said the initiative is intended to reduce the high upfront costs that often prevent businesses from adopting energy-efficient equipment.
The organization said improved access to these appliances can help farmers, entrepreneurs and small firms increase income and support local economic growth. It added that the programme is expected to support more than 3,000 green jobs across the three countries.
