Fourteen countries in Africa and the Caribbean began reviewing how to structure more competitive, bankable renewable energy tenders capable of mobilizing private capital , in a process that will extend from September 2026 to June 2027.
The initiative brings together Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Libya, Namibia, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe , whose representatives will work on energy planning, financing, contracts, guarantees and the design of competitive processes.
The program corresponds to the third edition of the Renewable Energy Tenders Capacity Development Academy, promoted by the Sustainable Renewable Energy Risk Mitigation Initiative of the World Bank Group, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Power Futures Lab and GET.transform.
The goal is for countries not only to incorporate technical knowledge, but also to use the process to improve specific tenders and strengthen the conditions necessary to attract private investment .
One of the focuses will be on the financial structuring of projects. Participants will address issues related to financial viability, debt and equity composition, risk allocation, and credit enhancement mechanisms .
Work will also be done on the design of energy purchase and sale contracts, including take-or-pay clauses, interconnection and the role of the State , key elements to define the bankability of the awarded projects.
The agenda also includes political risk insurance, partial risk guarantees, letters of credit, and other instruments aimed at reducing investor exposure.
“Well-structured competitive bidding reduces costs, eases fiscal constraints, and facilitates access to affordable energy,” said Huong M. Nguyen, senior energy specialist at ESMAP, World Bank Group.
The rationale behind the initiative is that better contracting rules can help transform investor interest into newly built capacity, especially in markets where contractual, credit, or institutional risk still limits the entry of private capital.
From better PPAs to more bankable auctions
The first face-to-face meeting will take place in Cape Town between October 25 and 30, 2026 , where delegations will work on the integration of variable renewables, project finance, PPAs and tender design.
From there, the program will continue with monthly online technical sessions focused on applying those concepts to the specific contexts of each country.
The Academy will culminate with a second face-to-face week in Cape Town in early June 2027, with practical exercises covering the entire procurement process, including PPA negotiations.
The initiative builds on two previous editions.
The first one, held between September 2024 and June 2025, brought together 65 public representatives from 12 English-speaking African countries .
This process resulted in national action plans and the identification of around 100 technical assistance needs , focusing on transparency, efficiency of tenders and improvement of financial viability.
The second edition, held between October 2025 and June 2026, expanded its reach to 17 Francophone countries and 72 participants , with additional support from the African Development Bank's Desert to Power program.
Now, the third cohort seeks to take another step forward and place greater emphasis on concrete implementation.
“This isn’t your typical classroom training program. It’s a hands-on lab where countries can work on improving their own renewable energy tenders in real time,” said Stephanie Betz, policy advisor at GET.transform.
For participating countries, the challenge will be to translate that work into more transparent, competitive processes, bankable contracts, and a better distribution of risks among governments, utilities, developers, and creditors .
The ultimate goal is for future auctions not only to attract bids, but also to convert awarded projects into new operational renewable capacity, thereby expanding access to private investment in both markets.