Utility Efficiency in Africa Program

completed

Program activities will include a combination of direct client advisory services, designed to achieve tangible impacts and demonstration effects, and sector-wide advisory services, designed to extend the reach of program impacts and lay a foundation for replication at scale. The program will be divided into the following components: 1. Client Advisory At first, clients will be assisted to assess the sources of system losses and identify opportunities for increased efficiency, resulting in a detailed investment plan. This activity will consist of two stages: Stage I - Scoping Assessment A preliminary audit of the clients' network and baseline losses will be completed and reviewed against known best practices and technology options. This will include preliminary financial cost/benefit analysis to identify priorities for further analysis. Stage II - Investment Plan Following the initial scoping, clients willing to invest further will be assisted with further analysis/detailed investment plans for loss reduction including technical and non-technical losses. In parallel to the investment planning stage, the program will support the transfer of knowledge in the fields of efficiency / loss reduction. In Kenya, the program will test a series of hands-on training modules for utility staff in resource efficiency practices, technologies, etc. This will increase clients' capacity to improve analysis and planning on loss reduction, post IFC exit. The work will also provide IFC with a model for utility efficiency advisory which can be replicated in other countries/regions. 2. Sector Wide Advisory To extend the reach of program impacts, a series of targeted sector wide activities will also be implemented. These may include benchmarking exercises, which have proved a valuable tool for IFC to catalyze systemic efficiency gains in a sector. It will also include networking and knowledge workshops, with at least one major event to be held during the first phase to bring together African utilities and service providers.