The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) announced on August 4, 2025, the appointment of Carol Koech as its new Vice President for Africa. This move signals a stronger focus on mobilizing investment and accelerating the continent’s transition toward clean and inclusive energy systems.

GEAPP, launched in 2021 with the backing of leading philanthropic institutions such as the Rockefeller Foundation, IKEA Foundation, and Bezos Earth Fund, has already mobilized over $10 billion in commitments to advance renewable energy in low- and middle-income countries. Africa has been a priority region, receiving a significant share of these investments to support large-scale solar farms, off-grid solutions, and innovative financing models aimed at unlocking private sector capital.

With nearly 600 million Africans still lacking access to electricity, the energy deficit remains one of the continent’s greatest barriers to economic transformation. At the same time, Africa’s renewable energy potential is immense: the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that Africa could generate up to 310 gigawatts of renewable power by 2030, provided there is sufficient investment and supportive regulatory frameworks.

As Vice President for Africa, Carol Koech will play a pivotal role in bridging this investment gap. Her mandate includes:

• Forging partnerships with African governments, multilateral banks, and private investors.
• Scaling innovative financing models, including blended finance and results-based mechanisms, to de-risk investments.
• Supporting job creation, with GEAPP projecting that renewable energy deployment could generate more than 1 million jobs across Africa over the next decade.
• Promoting policy reforms that enable cross-border energy trade, private sector participation, and regional integration of power markets.

For investors, her appointment is a signal that GEAPP intends to act not only as a development partner but also as a catalyst for commercial opportunities in Africa’s energy transition. By reducing risks and co-investing alongside private capital, GEAPP seeks to unlock billions in new funding for renewable infrastructure, from utility-scale solar parks to decentralized mini-grids in rural communities.

Carol Koech brings with her deep experience in the African energy sector and a strong track record in sustainable finance. Industry observers see her leadership as a turning point that could accelerate Africa’s role as both a global hub for green energy innovation and a new frontier for climate-aligned investment.

As African economies strive to industrialize while meeting climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, the combination of GEAPP’s financial firepower and Carol Koech’s leadership could set the stage for a new era of bankable, scalable, and inclusive energy projects on the continent.