REAL Showcases Energy-as-a-Service Success with Lite Salone Programme at New York Climate Week
Speakers during the panel discussion hosted by REAL at New York Climate Week.
REAL proudly co-hosted an event alongside the Government of Sierra Leone and Easy Solar during the UN General Assembly at New York Climate Week 2025.
The event was attended by energy access actors, high-level policymakers, programme leads, development partners, and funders.
From Compact to Impact: Sierra Leone’s Pioneering Model to Deliver Universal Energy Access at the Last Mile highlighted the success of the Lite Salone programme in Sierra Leone, ahead of the official signing of the Mission 300 Compact. The Compact, led by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank, is set to connect 400,000 off-grid households through solar home systems across the country.
Speakers galvanised the room throughout the presentation, including the Government of Ireland’s Minister of State for International Development, Neale Richmond TD; the Government of Sierra Leone’s Chairman of PI-CREF and Energy Governance Co-ordination Group, Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella; M300 CEO, Andrew Herscowitz; and the National Coordinator for the Sierra Leone Compact Unit, Ndeye Sesay.
An insightful panel discussion followed, featuring Thorarinna Soebech, Deputy Director General for International Development Cooperation, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Iceland; Easy Solar CEO, Alexandre Tourre; and Trócaire CFO, Siobhan Cassidy.
Commenting on the event, REAL Executive Director Ieva Indriunaite said:
“This event marked an important milestone, celebrating both the Government’s Mission 300 Compact and Sierra Leone’s leadership in highlighting the importance of last-mile electrification. While large infrastructure projects often capture attention, it is the last mile that requires special effort and commitment.
REAL’s mission is to catalyse and scale energy-as-a-service models such as Lite Salone’s, which target the hardest-to-reach households and rapidly connect them to lasting, sustainable, and affordable energy access.”
REAL recognises this as a crucial moment to champion the energy-as-a-service model for last-mile electrification by ensuring it is fully integrated into the programming of the World Bank and the African Development Bank under the M300 leadership.
To build on the momentum of this event, REAL is committed to working closely with the Government of Sierra Leone to advance fundraising and scale the Lite Salone programme. Together, we can lay the foundations for a financially sustainable national programme that also serves as a flagship model for last-mile electrification across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Lite Salone’s international and local implementation partners and funders
