By Earth Focus Network News
“Off-grid solar has become one of the fastest-growing routes to electricity access, reaching hundreds of millions of households and enterprises where grid access remains slow, unreliable, or uneconomic.”
— GOGLA Annual General Meeting 2026 Report
Video for https://gogla.org/
A Defining Moment for Energy Access
Rwanda is set to host one of the world’s most influential energy access gatherings. From 27–29 October 2026, the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum & Expo will convene at the Kigali Convention Centre, bringing together the global off-grid solar community to accelerate progress toward universal energy access.
Organized and co-hosted by GOGLA, the global off-grid solar association, and the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), this flagship event will gather 1,200+ industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and development partners from across the energy access ecosystem. The 2026 edition comes at a pivotal time: business models are evolving, finance tools are recalibrating, and collaboration has never mattered more.
Event Highlights:
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dates | 27–29 October 2026 |
| Location | Kigali Convention Centre, Rwanda |
| Organizers | GOGLA & World Bank ESMAP |
| Expected Attendees | 1,200+ |
| Pre-Event | Government policy dialogue (26 October) |
| Post-Event | Site visits, field trips, technical workshops (30 October) |
The Context: Mission 300 and the Energy Access Imperative
The Forum takes place against the backdrop of Mission 300—a groundbreaking initiative by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank, supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, to connect 300 million people in Africa to electricity by 2030.
Nearly 600 million people in Africa lack access to electricity. Closing this gap requires unprecedented scale, speed, and investment. Since its launch in 2024, Mission 300 has already connected 44 million people to electricity, with 30 countries signing energy compacts to expand infrastructure, integrate regional power, embrace renewables, and boost private investment.
The Private Sector Opportunity:
Half of Mission 300 electricity connections are expected to come from off-grid solutions. Private sector investment is critical to building out off-grid energy options and achieving Mission 300 goals.
| Commitment | Amount |
|---|---|
| World Bank Group Financing | $10.4B committed to date |
| African Development Bank Financing | $9B committed to date |
| Development Partners | $10.4B pledged |
| IFC & MIGA (Private Sector) | $5B committed by 2030 |
GOGLA has been appointed to the Mission 300 Private Sector Council, alongside 13 other leaders from diverse sectors, to mobilize private investment and maximize economic transformation.
Forum Themes: From Access to Economic Transformation
The 2026 Forum will explore how innovation, investment, and cross-sector collaboration can unlock the next phase of growth for off-grid solar and distributed renewable energy.
Theme 1: Powering Lives.
Scaling access through innovation, new models, and global initiatives. The Forum will address:
- The role of off-grid solar and distributed renewable energy in achieving Mission 300
- Emerging business models and technologies transforming the sector
- The shift from creating connections to ensuring durable access—measuring commercial viability, sustained repayment rates, and after-sales service quality
Theme 2: Putting Solar to Work.
Turning energy into jobs, incomes, and resilient economies. As Sarah Malm, Executive Director of GOGLA, notes, “Off-grid solar is moving from a last-mile solution to essential economic infrastructure.”
This theme explores:
- How off-grid solar is driving jobs and productivity across agriculture, enterprise, and local economies
- The shift from energy access to economic transformation at scale
- Productive Use of Energy (PURE)—powering businesses, agriculture, healthcare, and local industry beyond the grid
Theme 3: Financing for the Future
Unlocking capital through Results-Based Financing (RBF), blended finance, and smart subsidies.
GOGLA’s recent Annual General Meeting surfaced key recommendations for RBF design:
- Verification and disbursement must be faster. Pre-qualifying verifiers and remote digital verification could cut disbursement times from months to weeks.
- Subsidy rates should be tiered. Nigeria’s model—with larger subsidies where capital risk is highest—should be replicated and dynamically adjusted.
- RBFs must account for working capital. Local banks can bridge the gap if brought in early.
- Programs should reward lasting outcomes. Not just the sale.
The Forum Experience
| Element | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| High-Level Perspectives | Senior representatives from governments and global development partners |
| Conference & Knowledge Exchange | Insights on finance, policy, and innovation shaping the sector |
| Business Matchmaking | Curated connections between companies, investors, and partners |
| Exhibition Areas | 80+ companies showcasing technologies driving distributed energy |
| Industry Networking Event | 800+ leaders in high-level, informal settings |
| Side Events & Field Visits | Policy dialogues, workshops, and real-world impact experiences |
Why Attend:
The 2026 Forum is the sector’s must-attend event. It offers unparalleled opportunities to:
- Connect with decision-makers across governments, investors, and the private sector
- Gain insights on the dynamics shaping the off-grid solar sector
- Showcase solutions to global buyers and policymakers
- Position your organization at the center of global energy access conversations
🇷🇼 Why Rwanda? A Hub for Energy Access Leadership
The Forum’s return to Rwanda reflects the country’s growing leadership in energy access and sustainable development. Rwanda’s commitment to off-grid solar and distributed renewable energy has been recognized internationally.
Political Commitment Matters:
As GOGLA’s 2026 Annual General Meeting Report notes, the clearest success stories come from governance—not financial innovations. Rwanda and Togo came up repeatedly as proof that credible government commitment outperforms clever subsidy design.
GOGLA members are clear on what companies need from governments:
- Robust, transparent national electrification strategies, coupled with accountability metrics
- A seat at the table—functioning channels for input into regulatory decisions
- Split markets by viability: commercial operations where returns are achievable and public sector responsibility where affordability makes returns impossible
Earth Focus Network: Connecting Changemakers
Earth Focus Network is a community of environmental professionals, researchers, and development practitioners dedicated to advancing effective conservation and sustainability solutions. We connect organizations, businesses, individuals, and funders through a unified platform—centralizing grant and job boards, directories, smart matching, and networking.
Our self-hosted platform allows members to share knowledge, build partnerships, and amplify their impact. With members across Africa, Europe, and the United States, we are building a lasting ecosystem of changemakers.
Why Join Earth Focus Network?
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Grant & Job Boards | Curated funding opportunities and career paths |
| Networking | Connect with professionals across sectors. |
| Knowledge Sharing | Access to best practices and case studies |
| Smart Matching | Find the right partners and collaborators. |
| Amplified Impact | Share your work with a global audience. |
We invite you to join us in driving sustainable change. Whether you are working in energy access, agriculture, conservation, or social innovation, Earth Focus Network provides the connections you need to scale your impact.
Call to Action: How to Engage
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Attend | Connect with decision-makers and gain insights. |
| Exhibit | Showcase solutions to global buyers, investors, and policymakers. |
| Sponsor | Position your organization at the center of global energy access conversations. |
- Learn More about: Gogla: https://gogla.org/
- Register for the Forum: https://members.gogla.org/event/global-off-grid-solar-forum-expo-2026/
Don’t miss out on climate finance opportunities. Members receive immediate access to our curated opportunities board and a global network of changemakers. Visit us: www.earthfocusnetwork Email us at Info@earthfocusnetwork.com.
This article was developed by Earth Focus Network News to inform our community about the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum & Expo 2026 and its relevance to energy access, economic transformation, and sustainable development in Rwanda and across Africa. We thank GOGLA, ESMAP, and all partners for their commitment to advancing universal energy access.
Will you be in Kigali for the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum & Expo 2026? Join Earth Focus Network, and let’s power Africa’s sustainable future together!
