Geres NGO: 50 Years advancing sustainable energy access worldwide

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Geres operates where access to energy remains fragile. By promoting a just energy transition, the organization works to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable populations and to combat the impacts of climate change. For more than a decade, the Fondation Nexans has supported this vision and committed itself alongside Geres to develop projects that concretely transform the daily lives of thousands of people. An organizational profile.

Few of the Fondation Nexans’ partners have been present since its creation. Among them, Geres stands out.

In many rural areas around the world, access to clean and reliable energy remains uncertain. Yet it determines everything: the ability to work after nightfall, preserve food, process crops, cook without endangering health, or simply study. It is precisely at this intersection of energy, development, and climate that Geres has been operating for nearly half a century.

About Geres

Founded in 1976 in Marseille, Geres (formerly Groupe Énergies Renouvelables, Environnement et Solidarités) emerged alongside early international discussions on sustainable development and alternative energy. Even then, engineers and researchers were already imagining energy solutions adapted to local realities, capable of improving living conditions while reducing pressure on natural resources.

Today, Geres is a recognized international solidarity NGO, committed to fighting energy poverty and climate change. Its approach is based on a simple belief: the energy transition can only succeed if it also benefits the most vulnerable people and communities.

On the ground, the NGO develops concrete projects: rural electrification, clean cooking solutions, support for climate-energy policies, and the development of economic activities linked to renewable energy.

• Founded: 1976
• Headquarters: Marseille, France
• Presence: Europe, Africa, Asia
• Team: 130+ staff
• Projects: dozens of programs each year
• Impact: hundreds of thousands of direct beneficiaries

From Cambodia to Morocco, Mali to Tajikistan, Geres teams work with local authorities, entrepreneurs, and communities to develop sustainable energy solutions—solutions that change everyday life: lighting schools, powering agricultural processing workshops, or reducing household wood consumption.

Fondation Nexans & Geres: a shared vision

From the creation of the Fondation Nexans, it quickly became clear that both organizations shared the same ambition.

On one side, the Fondation Nexans works to facilitate access to energy worldwide, convinced that electricity is a key driver of economic and social development.
On the other, Geres has been implementing field projects for decades, placing people and territories at the heart of the energy transition.

The partnership began in 2014 with a pilot project in Mali and has since grown stronger over time.

What brings them together is a shared desire to act as close as possible to real community needs, encourage local innovation, and achieve lasting impact.

In many countries, access to electricity is not just about infrastructure—it also requires creating the conditions for energy to become a driver of economic and social development. This is where their joint projects take on their full meaning.

In Togo: energy as a driver of economic activity

Among the flagship projects supported by the Fondation Nexans, the “Lacs” project in Togo illustrates this collaboration.

In 2022, the Foundation supported an initiative to boost the economic development of the municipality of Aného by improving access to sustainable, high-quality, and affordable energy services. The project focused particularly on fish processors (women entrepreneurs) and other local economic actors.

The project was implemented in two phases:

• A participatory energy access assessment conducted with local stakeholders
• A two-year deployment phase including a pilot cold storage solution and expansion

Thanks to a solar photovoltaic installation (cold room and ice machine), local professionals now have modern tools to preserve products, reduce losses, and improve profitability.

Access to energy has transformed local economic development, especially for women.

The electrification of the Lacs municipality plays a crucial role in local economic development, particularly for women fish processors, who are key players in the fisheries value chain. Thanks to the Foundation’s support, it provides access to cold storage equipment—previously unavailable—which represents a major lever to improve their productivity.

"This project is emblematic of the partnership between the Nexans Foundation and Geres. This relationship allows us to develop a holistic approach combining social impact, environmental responsibility, and economic sustainability. It perfectly illustrates Nexans’ commitment to supporting innovative projects that improve access to energy for disadvantaged populations, while respecting the environment and addressing climate challenges.”
Noé Courvallet, former Energy Access and Energy Efficiency Project Manager, Geres

Expanding projects across Africa and the Mediterranean

Over time, the partnership has expanded to new regions and themes, with a constant goal: making energy a tool for local development.

In Mali, Electrified Activity Zones (ZAE) create spaces where electricity is accessible to artisans and entrepreneurs, functioning as rural economic hubs.

In Morocco, projects focus on energy-climate information services, raising awareness and supporting local policies.

The latest project explores a key future issue: sustainable management of energy equipment, promoting recycling and circular economy approaches (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).

Building a fairer energy transition

In a world facing climate urgency, the energy transition is often seen as a technological challenge. But for millions, it is first and foremost about access—to energy, opportunities, and better living conditions.

This is what Geres and the Fondation Nexans demonstrate: it is possible to act for both climate and human development.

By combining Geres’ field expertise and Fondation Nexans’ commitment, these projects help shape a more inclusive energy transition—one that not only produces clean energy but shares its benefits with those who need it most.