Dakar: An energy expert, Mr. Hary Andriantavy of the African Association for Rural Electrification (CLUB-ER), has called upon members of the ECOWAS Parliament to implement laws that will expedite universal electricity access across West Africa. Andriantavy made this appeal while presenting a paper on the impact of energy access on rural economies, focusing on agro-processing and livelihoods, during the ongoing delocalised meeting of the parliament’s Joint Committee on Energy and Mines, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, and Infrastructure in Dakar.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Andriantavy emphasized the crucial role of parliamentarians in fostering an environment conducive to energy expansion through supportive legislation, policy reforms, and adequate financing mechanisms. He recommended the establishment of dedicated national renewable energy funds, increased budgetary allocations, and tax incentives, such as removing value-added taxes on solar and hydroelectric equipment, to make off-grid electricity more affordable.
The expert also advocated for legal frameworks that support decentralized mini-grids, clean energy technologies, productive-use applications, and inclusive energy justice policies. Furthermore, he urged lawmakers to enhance monitoring mechanisms, ensure governmental accountability, and promote evidence-based policymaking.
Andriantavy highlighted that universal energy access serves as a catalyst for economic development, capable of unlocking rural economic potential, reducing poverty, and accelerating the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region. He stated that electricity access should be perceived not just as a means to light homes but as a driver of economic transformation, job creation, improved healthcare, and social inclusion.
He further explained that energy access impacts economic development and productive use of energy, basic social services like health and education, quality of life, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. Andriantavy underscored the importance of electricity-powered activities in transforming rural economies and reducing inequalities, particularly among women.
Despite the potential benefits, he noted that inadequate electricity supply continues to constrain healthcare services, educational opportunities, and overall socio-economic development in many rural communities. Andriantavy cited global initiatives like Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) that recognize energy access as essential for achieving the SDGs and supporting jobs and livelihoods through a just energy transition.
He also mentioned Mission 300, an initiative aimed at connecting 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, illustrating how electricity supports home lighting, access to information, vaccine preservation, and large-scale employment generation. The Rockefeller Foundation’s identification of electricity absence as an indicator of extreme poverty was also highlighted, with energy abundance providing pathways to employment, prosperity, digital inclusion, and women’s empowerment.
To showcase the impact of renewable energy interventions, Andriantavy pointed to successful projects in Mali, Benin, and Togo, where renewable energy-powered economic zones and mini-grid schemes have stimulated local enterprises and improved living conditions. Projects like the Electrified Activity Zones (ZAE) in Mali and community mini-grid initiatives in Benin and Togo have delivered significant results, boosting business turnover, increasing value addition to agricultural products, creating jobs, expanding financial inclusion, and strengthening community ownership.
These projects have also enhanced public services, improved quality of life, and encouraged talent retention in rural communities, Andriantavy concluded.