Fondation Nexans with Fondem, a successful partnership to electrify Africa

Among the NGOs supported by the Fondation Nexans, Fondem (Fondation Énergie pour le Monde) holds a special place. Since the Fondation’s creation in 2013, Fondem has been a recurring grantee, with six projects funded to date. What will the next one be?

Fondem: A key player in sustainable electrification in Africa

Since its inception, Fondem has championed universal access to electricity in rural areas, with a strong focus on environmental sustainability—values that align perfectly with the mission of the Fondation Nexans.

Established in 1990 and officially recognized as a public-interest organization that same year, Fondem has worked in nearly 30 countries across three continents. Today, it focuses its operations on seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa, where energy needs are most urgent.

“Fondem initially worked in several regions worldwide but has now refocused on sub-Saharan Africa because of the massive unmet demand for electricity,” explains Madeleine Fauchier, Executive Director of Fondem. “In rural areas, electrification rates remain critically low, and energy infrastructure is inadequate. With our local partnerships and decades of expertise, we can implement tailored, high-impact solutions where they are needed most.”

The expertise of trusted partners like Fondem plays a vital role in helping the Fondation Nexans deliver on its commitment to energy access for all.

A longstanding collaboration with the Fondation Nexans

“The first collaboration between Fondem and the Fondation Nexans dates back to its very beginning in 2013,” recalls Madeleine Fauchier. Their initial joint initiative, the BOREALE project in Madagascar, involved building seven solar mini-grids that brought electricity to nearly 20,000 people. Implemented from September 2013 to February 2016, it marked the start of a lasting partnership.

Since then, five additional projects across Senegal, Togo, Mali, and Guinea have received support from the Fondation.

“We deeply value this collaboration because it is built on long-term trust,” adds Fauchier. “The Fondation Nexans not only provides funding but also truly invests in understanding and shaping the projects it supports.”

Spotlight: The EGALES project in Senegal

One particularly impactful initiative is EGALES (Empowering Women through Solar Agroecology), a women-led agroecological farming project in Casamance, Senegal. It supported 350 women with solar-powered irrigation systems and training in sustainable agriculture, entrepreneurship, and governance.

“We even published a photo book and a lessons-learned brochure to share the project's outcomes. Its success has inspired us to scale up: we’re now supporting 750 women and covering the entire agricultural value chain—from production and storage to processing and sales,” says Fauchier.

This project exemplifies how collaborative, mission-aligned partnerships can deliver high-impact, community-centered solutions with long-term benefits.

Electrifying Africa: A Shared Commitment

Fondem and the Fondation Nexans share a common goal: to enable broad, reliable, and sustainable access to electricity in Africa, particularly in underserved rural regions. Both organizations recognize that energy access is a key enabler of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), from poverty reduction and education to gender equality and climate action.

Each of their joint projects is designed not only to bring electricity but also to contribute to one or more of the SDGs:

• SOLSOMATI (Mali): Installation of a solar power plant combined with income-generating activities.
• ACTEURS (Guinea): Distribution of individual solar kits and training of local technicians for long-term maintenance.
• CASELEC (Senegal): Deployment of off-grid solar systems with economic development and vocational training.
• EGALES (Senegal): Solar irrigation to empower female farmers and improve regional food security.

Why Electrification Matters

Electrification goes far beyond lighting homes. It enables:

• Economic development through entrepreneurship and job creation
• Better education and access to training
• Improved healthcare and living conditions
• Women’s empowerment and gender equality
• Community safety and resilience

These challenges are becoming even more pressing as energy needs grow across the continent.

Seizing momentum for universal energy access

The announcement by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) of a €1 billion support plan to accelerate energy access in Africa over the next five years signals a major opportunity. According to Madeleine Fauchier:

“This funding will allow private sector players to engage in large-scale projects, while NGOs like Fondem can focus on social engineering—ensuring productive uses of electricity, stimulating demand, and addressing socio-economic impacts. Public-private partnerships will be key to achieving universal access.”