Solar Pumps and New Beginnings: A Journal from Ivory Coast
The sun was already high when I arrived at Mr. Anvo Dominique’s farm in Grand Bassam, Ivory Coast. The air buzzed with energy—partly from the midday heat, partly from the sense of purpose that radiated from the man himself. As the video crew recorded his testimony in French, and I tried to take a video by myself Mr. Anvo spoke with a quiet pride about the journey that brought him here: from relying on a noisy, unreliable fuel-powered pump to the day Greeno installed a solar irrigation system on his land. The transformation, he explained, was immediate—less hassle, more reliability, and a newfound profitability that allowed him to expand beyond vegetables into livestock and hospitality, welcoming guests to a weekend country inn run with his wife.
Mr. Anvo: A Farmer’s Testimony
Mr. Anvo’s story is about technology but for me it was about dignity, resilience, and the entrepreneurial spirit that defines so many Ivorian farmers. His solar pump is a machine and a symbol of hope and self-reliance in a context where both are often in short supply.
Greeno and SunCulture Innovation
Greeno, the joint-venture between EDF and SunCulture, is the supplier of solar-powered pumps designed for smallholder farmers and breeders, offering innovative, affordable solutions to some of the country’s most persistent challenges. With support from ElectriFI and other impact investors, Greeno’s model is simple – they provide clean, reliable energy for irrigation, boost productivity, and empower rural entrepreneurs to take control of their futures. ElectriFI invested in SunCulture in 2022.
During my visit to Greeno’s warehouse, I watched as teams assembled and tested solar kits destined for farms across the country. The excitement was palpable.
ElectriFI is an EU funded Electrification Financing Initiative, and a key component of the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy. It is managed by the EDFI Management Company on behalf of the 15 European Development Finance Institutions.
About SunCulture
SunCulture is a solar irrigation company—a market leader and innovator whose mission perfectly aligns with EDFI Management Company’s core objectives. Founded in Kenya in 2012, SunCulture designs, manufactures, finances, and distributes solar-powered water pumps and irrigation systems tailored for smallholder farmers. With a commanding presence in East Africa, holding over 50% market share in the solar irrigation market for smallholders, SunCulture has proven its business model at scale and impact.
Their strategy combines direct sales to farmers (both cash and pay-as-you-go) alongside distributor partnerships, ensuring accessibility and affordability. This approach has earned them recognition as a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer in 2023 and a spot-on Fast Company’s list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in 2021. Beyond Kenya, SunCulture is expanding its footprint into West Africa through Greeno, the joint venture with EDF in Ivory Coast, and has operations in Uganda as well.
For EDFI Management Company (EDFI MC), SunCulture mission represents an ideal investee. EDFI MC’s mission is to catalyse private sector investments in frontier markets by taking on higher risks and supporting innovative business models that create jobs, boost growth, and fight poverty and climate change. SunCulture’s proven ability to combine clean energy with sustainable agriculture fits squarely within this mandate.
In fragile contexts like Ivory Coast, where agriculture is vital but vulnerable, and energy access remains uneven, SunCulture’s technology and business model offer a pathway to economic empowerment and environmental sustainability. EDFI MC’s support helps bridge the financing gap for such pioneering enterprises, unlocking growth and development where it is needed most.
The Fragile Context: Ivory Coast’s Agricultural and Energy Landscape
Ivory Coast’s economy is at a crossroads. Agriculture remains the backbone, employing a large share of the population and making the country the world’s leading cocoa producer. Yet, climate change, erratic rainfall, and land degradation threaten this foundation. The government’s response has been twofold: invest in renewable energy and promote sustainable, value-added agriculture. Projects like Greeno’s are part of a broader push to reach 42% renewable energy in the national mix by 2030, with solar and biomass at the forefront. EDF’s new biomass plant and solar initiatives are focused on reducing emissions, but the focus is on creating jobs, raising farmer incomes, and building resilience in rural communities. The impact is tangible: solar projects are already supplying electricity to thousands, and new public-private partnerships are scaling up access in remote regions.
Supporting Local Entrepreneurs: The Human Side of Investment
What struck me most was the resourcefulness of people like Mr. Anvo. His willingness to embrace new technology, diversify his business, and share his story is emblematic of the entrepreneurial drive that investment seeks to unlock. By investing in companies like SunCulture, we are betting on the ingenuity of local entrepreneurs to chart a path toward food security, economic growth, and climate resilience.
Leaving Grand Bassam, I couldn’t help but feel inspired. The video of Mr. Anvo’s testimony, delivered in his own words, captures the essence of what’s possible when clean energy meets agricultural ambition. In a fragile context like Ivory Coast, these stories are a reminder that real progress is measured not just in megawatts or hectares, but in the lives transformed and the futures built.
Author:
Didier Niati, portfolio officer, EDFI Management Company
