Additional Context: These hospital electrification systems were being supported by the Health Electrification and Telecommunications Alliance, which was part of Power Africa, the U.S. government's interagency initiative designed to double electricity access across sub-Saharan Africa. Bypassing local grid infrastructure shortfalls by promoting the installation of off-grid solar power systems or smart nano-grids, this five-year project was meant to bring reliable access to electricity to hospitals and clinics across the continent. Though terminated in early 2025, it had already electrified 782 facilities accessed by 11 million people across 14 countries, and worked with 44 public and private partners to leverage a total of $17.5 million.

The project was implemented by a local company with support from Bechtel and Zola Intelligence. When USAID funding was rescinded, Zola was approached by Bechtel to continue the work as a privately backed effort. In September 2025, the companies announced a plan to expand the model to 50,000 facilities across 10 countries. “In a perverse way, the decline of USAID was the catalyst that was needed in order to drive private investment into what we're doing,” Zola CEO Bill Lenihan told Devex.

The source has requested to remain anonymous.