The African Forum for Utility Regulators (AFUR) has launched the African Model Mini-Grid Regulations Tool, a pioneering solution designed to streamline and standardise mini-grid regulations across the continent. The IT-based tool was developed in partnership with GET.transform and aims to help governments and regulators develop, update, and adapt their mini-grid policies in line with international best practices. It was launched today at the African Union Regional Policy Dialogue “Rural Electrification for Industrialization” in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The tool offers a true boost for regulatory harmonisation as the included templates have been reviewed or endorsed by as many as 30 African and international organisations. In an unrivalled approach, regulators, industry associations and development partners agreed applicable best practice solutions.
Reliable and scalable electrification is crucial for Africa’s development and economic growth, but inconsistent and fragmented regulatory frameworks have long hindered progress. Some countries have well-defined regulations, yet others have none, and even existing frameworks are often more suited for pilot projects rather than full-scale national implementation. This lack of clarity has kept investors cautious and slowed down electrification efforts.
AFUR’s new tool addresses these challenges by offering a customisable regulatory framework tailored to each country’s legal and electricity sector structure. Users simply answer key questions about their nation’s electricity landscape, and the tool generates regulation text that is 70–90% implementation-ready within hours. It also provides feedback on how investor-friendly the regulations are, ensuring that countries can attract much-needed private sector participation.
The initiative has already gained traction, with countries such as like Cameroon, Lesotho, Burkina Faso, and Zimbabwe showing interest in adopting the tool to enhance their mini-grid sectors.
By making this tool widely available, AFUR aims to transform Africa’s mini-grid landscape, accelerating electrification and unlocking economic opportunities for millions.
The tool is accessible via the AFUR website (afurnet.org) – alongside further off-grid knowledge and tools like the Technical, Economic and Legal Guidelines, the AFUR Enhanced Mini-Grid Tariff Tool and the country perspectives.
