from DION HENRICK in Cape Town
Western Cape Bureau
CAPE TOWN, (CAJ News) – A NEW joint initiative is calling on members of the African diaspora to share their views through a survey aimed at exploring the potential of diaspora investment in accelerating energy access across the continent.
Energise Africa, African Foundation for Development (AFFORD) and Crowd Power lead the scheme.
The Diaspora Crowdfunding Survey forms part of a pioneering research project launched earlier in 2025 to understand how crowdfunding can be used to harness the financial power and engagement of diaspora communities for sustainable development.
With more than 750 million people in Africa lacking reliable access to electricity, innovative financing models are urgently needed.
This month Chatham House issued a stark warning that the global shift toward sustainable finance cannot afford to lose momentum, especially now, as the United States government retreats from key international climate and finance forums.
The consortium is exploring whether the African diaspora can play a vital role in contributing to the continent’s economic development, not just through remittances, but also through entrepreneurship, investment, and advocacy.
The consortium hopes to support solutions to this global challenge and present it as an opportunity to crowdfunding investors.
Energise Africa Chief Executive Officer, Ray Coyle, said, “This study is a vital step in understanding how diaspora capital can be channelled more effectively to support Africa’s clean energy transition.”
“We want to hear directly from the diaspora about what motivates them to invest, what barriers they face, and how we can better design crowdfunding opportunities that resonate with their values and ambitions.”
Energise Africa is a United Kingdom-based impact investing platform connecting investors with high-impact solar energy projects in sub-Saharan Africa.
– CAJ News