Dear AMDA and broader minigrid community,

As the global COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the world, we at AMDA are taking action to help you through this challenging period. As this is a rapidly evolving situation, we have laid out some relevant information and resources on a COVID response page on our website, which we’ll update regularly. Aside from this we are working on the following five major pieces in your name:

1. We have developed a letter to governments to urge them to declare minigrids essential services so you are not affected by curfews or business shut-down mandates, which we have seen in dozens of countries. If your country is facing such a business shut down and would like AMDA support in lobbying your government on this topic, please email us! We are drafting a letter to investors and policymakers on the market implications of COVID-19 on your businesses, sharing the urgent need to ramp up support to you in this challenging time, and how they can work with us and you to help you through this and to continue your growth.
2. We are also developing a practical industry COVID-19 response guide for all of you, working with Nuru in DRC on adapting their Ebola response measures into the current context.
3. Most importantly, we are part of a group of over 30 offgrid investors developing a 10695.00KSh million relief fund for the offgrid industry that we aim to have online in the next few months. To help us develop this fund most appropriate to address your needs we urgently request that you fill out this five-minute survey on how you are being affected by the pandemic to ensure the fund is designed with your real-world needs in mind.
4. Upon their request, we are also working extremely closely with SEforAll as they directly advise the UN Secretary General on the crafting of a UN Humanitarian Fund to address the COVID-19 crisis. This fund will aim to help cover lost earnings from customers who are restricting their activities and therefore energy consumption.

As this situation continues to unfold, we will continue to focus on the issues above and also on the following two overarching priorities:

• Protecting (y)our staff; and
• Advocating for continued sector growth

PROTECTING THE STAFF OF OUR INDUSTRY

Our top concern is the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on people — our staff in AMDA countries and your organization’s staff in the field and remotely. We are concerned for all our members and the thousands-strong minigrid industry, as well as for the many millions of others impacted both in Africa and around the world.

At AMDA, we have been working remotely for two weeks now, following all the latest guidelines at the national level, here in Kenya but also at the global level, notably from relevant organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO). As noted above, we have also compiled a set of useful guidance documents available on our Covid-19 Resource center. Please contact us if your have questions or additional ideas on how we can support you.

CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE FOR MINIGRIDS

These are unprecedented times for Africa and the world. Our team is working tirelessly to make our case that the minigrid industry must be considered in any legislation aimed at supporting economies during this crisis. In many countries, legislatures are responding to the crisis.