Impact investment firm Acumen has announced that its Hardest-to-Reach Initiative (H2R) has successfully mobilized a total of $250 million in blended capital to accelerate clean energy access across sub-Saharan Africa. This milestone marks a significant step toward addressing energy poverty in some of the continent’s most underserved regions.
The H2R Initiative is designed to reach nearly 70 million people living in remote and vulnerable communities, including 50 million first-time energy users in markets where traditional financing has struggled to operate. By leveraging innovative financing structures, H2R aims to overcome barriers that have historically limited investment in these geographies.
The initiative comprises two complementary vehicles:
- Catalyze, a patient capital and market-building facility focused on creating the conditions for long-term energy access.
- H2R Amplify, a dedicated debt fund that provides scalable financing solutions for clean energy enterprises.
Together, these vehicles are structured to unlock affordable, distributed renewable energy for households and small businesses across 17 countries, including Malawi, Zambia, and Somalia. The approach emphasizes sustainability, affordability, and resilience, ensuring that energy solutions can thrive even in the hardest-to-reach areas.
“Over the past two years, we brought together partners who aligned behind one goal: to unlock energy access to the most remote and vulnerable areas. Moving from an announced strategy to fully committed capital gives us the foundation to carry this work forward with clarity and purpose,” said Jiwoo Choi, Head of H2R at Acumen.
