HETA is a USAID Global Development Alliance (GDA), a powerful mechanism for activating private sector expertise and resources toward sustainable development objectives. As a GDA, HETA starts with $47 million in seed funding from Power Africa to catalyze significant contributions from other partners (donor, private for-profit, and non-profit entities). Together, we will deliver the funds and in-kind resources to design, install, and maintain renewable energy systems linked to mobile or internet networks for thousands of health facilities in sub-Saharan Africa.

HETA’s approach considers energy as a service, meaning the health system pays for energy delivered, not equipment installed. The alliance seeks to create mutually beneficial relationships between health facilities and their energy and telecommunications services providers. The approach emphasizes the need for long-term operations and maintenance (O&M) of the systems—addressing an important sustainability challenge.

In collaboration with health facilities, public sector stakeholders, and private sector partners, HETA customizes system designs at the country level to meet each facilities’ ongoing needs for electricity and digital services. Facilities’ access to reliable power has numerous benefits. Where feasible, HETA seeks to facilitate partnerships that will enable sales of surplus power to businesses and families in the surrounding communities. Such arrangements help generate revenue for system O&M, supporting financial sustainability. This approach also opens the door for a range of productive uses of energy, from ensuring the facility’s ability to run state-of-the-art medical appliances to providing power for mobile charging stations or pumps to deliver clean water.