Partnerships: 1+1 = 3

The Alliance of Rural Electrification (ARE) is working on a daily basis with key partner organisations to promote and to advance the development of rural electrification markets. Consequently, ARE helps to close the gap between private sector and institutions, governments/agencies and NGOs/civil society.

ARE’s partnerships vary in nature and can generally be divided into four categories, which reflect the overall vision and mission of the Alliance:

Firstly, ARE engages in partnerships with key organisations, such AEEP, EUEI PDF, IRENA and SEforALL, which aim to improve policy and regulation frameworks for renewable off-grid electrification solutions. These partnerships are essential because they raise awareness of rural electrification while enabling more favorable conditions to scale the off-grid market.

Given the fundamental importance of access to financing for the development of rural electrification markets and projects, ARE also engages in a series of partnerships focused on investment and financing support as well as on project implementation. Key partners for ARE in this respect are the European Commission as well as the Africa-EU Renewable Energy Cooperation Program (RECP) and the OPEC’s Fund for International Development (OFID).

ARE has furthermore established industry cooperation partnerships with relevant private sector driven organsations such as with ALER (promotion of renewable energies in Portuguese speaking countries) and with GOGLA (promotion of the use of off-grid lighting applications) to increase the impact through common activities. From ARE membership perspective these partnerships are important as they help to create more market transparency and they also enable better market access.

Finally, also in this regard, ARE engages in a wide range of additional partnerships to improve sharing of best practices and capacity building in the sector

Through the higher impact of common efforts and realised synergies the partnerships with ARE lead to a higher visibility of the off-grid sector and more importantly also to its better recognition. Consequently, as it is the common purpose of ARE and its partners to make access to rural electrification markets more attractive, ARE members are best positioned to grow above market average. These benefit from first-hand access to existing and upcoming business opportunities, funding schemes and networking opportunities, as well as from high level contacts and early market information.

Policy & Regulation – Raising Awareness	Project Implementation - Investment & Finance
AEEP - African EU Energy Partnership Custodian Workstream Energy Access Productive Use of Renewable Energy in Africa   CLUB-ER - Club des Agences et Structures Nationales en charge de l'Electrification Rurale Rural Electrification in Africa  DFID – UK Department for International Development UK Africa Campaign Launch  EUEI PDF - EU Energy Initiative Partnership Dialogue Facility Workstream Energy Access Mini-grid Policy Toolkit  IRENA - International Renewable Energy Agency Coalition of Action  Power For All Energy Sector Working Group  RECP - Africa-EU Renewable Energy Cooperation Program Mini-grid Policy Toolkit  SEforALL – Sustainable Energy for All Clean Energy Mini-grids High Impact Opportunity	AFDB – The African Development Bank GMG market development program   European Commission ElectriFI   GIZ - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit Risk Mitigation Study together with HNU CEMG HIO - Mapping Exercise   IRENA - International Renewable Energy Agency Marketplace Project Navigator    OFID - The OPEC Fund for International Development Clean Energy Mini-grids RECP - Africa-EU Renewable Energy Cooperation Program Finance Catalyst   Rockefeller Foundation CEMG HIO - Mapping Exercise
Private Sector Cooperation – Market Access & Technology Transfer	Capacity Building / Market Information
Asian Development Bank Energy for All   ALER - Assosciao Lusofona de Energias Renovais Decentralised renewable energy solutions in Portuguese-speaking developing and emerging countries      EBTC – European Business and Technology Centre India Off-grid Market Study Technology Transfer, India   Intersolar, BSW & Otti Off-Grid Forum   IRENA - International Renewable Energy Agency IOREC   GESA - Global Energy Storage Alliance Advance education, collaboration, knowledge   GOGLA – Global Off-Grid Lighting Association Promotion of the use of off-grid lighting applications   IEC – International Electrotechnical Standards  AFSEC - Standards for Rural Electrification in Africa Collaboration Pledge   MESIA - Middle East Solar Industry Association Promotion of solar power in the UAE RECP - Africa-EU Renewable Energy Cooperation Program Private Sector Cooperation Partner & Stakeholder mobilization partner  T9 – International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme Task 9 IEA-PVPS T9 Information Exchange	Berkeley University, RAEL - Renewable & Appropriate Energy Laboratory Colombia Off-grid Market Study Peru Off-grid Market Study   Bloomberg/Climatescope Bloomberg New Energy Finance    Cambridge & Oxford University Smart Villages initiative  IEA – International Energy Agency World Energy Outlook  REN 21 - Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century Global Status Report Mini-grid Policy Toolkit SAIREC  USAID Hybrid Mini-grids Study  UNF – United Nations Foundation Energy Practitioners Network