Hardest-to-Reach

Delivering off-grid solar to Africa’s underserved communities.

Program
Renewable energy
Sub-Saharan Africa H2R

About Hardest-to-Reach

The Hardest-to-Reach Initiative (H2R) is Acumen’s most ambitious energy effort to date. Focused on sub-Saharan Africa’s least electrified regions, H2R uses blended finance to expand access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy. With over $245 million secured from a global coalition of partners, H2R is blending catalytic support with scalable tools to drive climate-resilient energy access.

By the numbers

capital secured to date for expanding off-grid energy

people to gain access to energy, at scale

priority countries with the world’s lowest electrification rates

tonnes of CO₂ emissions to be avoided

The latest on Hardest-to-Reach

Renewable energy

Acumen secures over $245 million to scale clean energy in Africa

Driving energy access in underserved markets through blended capital.

Renewable energy

Forbes: Jacqueline Novogratz And Acumen Raise $250 Million For Off-Grid Solar In Africa

Renewable energy

Acumen invests $1M in Somalia’s KIMS to grow off-grid solar

Renewable energy

Husk Power and Acumen partner on energy access in the DRC

Investee spotlight: Yellow Malawi

Maya Khonje Stewart, co-founder of Yellow Malawi, is redefining energy access in her country. Her story is featured in Humanising Energy, a BBC StoryWorks series, in a film produced for Acumen.

Built for impact: A dual-vehicle strategy

H2R leverages two complementary strategies to accelerate energy access across sub-Saharan Africa. Together, these strategies enable H2R to meet enterprises where they are, with financing designed to unlock impact potential, overcome market barriers, scale solutions, and accelerate energy access across the continent.

H2R Catalyze

Catalytic capital to build up nascent markets, helping companies enter or expand in underserved regions. H2R Catalyze uses a tailored mix of equity, debt, and grants to unlock early growth, drive commercial sustainability, support new models, and build the foundations for long-term impact.

H2R Amplify

Targeted debt capital to help companies deepen their reach within H2R markets and deliver impact at scale. H2R Amplify bridges critical financing gaps, providing larger ticket sizes to enable scale-up of delivery, and using instruments such as impact-linked debt to incentivize a focus on communities most at risk of being left behind.

Who we invest in

H2R invests in companies across the off-grid energy value chain, catalyzing new market entrants and scaling proven energy solutions. Our portfolio includes:

Off-grid solar distributors, including local enterprises, bring developed distribution networks and context-specific knowledge. Supporting these companies is critical for accessing last-mile customers.

Established businesses that manufacture and distribute off-grid solar products play a key role in scaling up clean energy delivery in underserved markets, as well as driving the most effective practices.

Mini-grids and other decentralized energy technologies are part of the solution towards SDG 7, providing reliable, affordable energy that can power economic growth, support livelihoods, and respond to evolving market needs and use cases.