ChildFund and Schneider Electric partner to expand clean energy access for children and communities in Africa and Asia

NAIROBI, KENYA — 31/7/2026: ChildFund International and Schneider Electric have partnered to develop distributed renewable energy projects that improve children's well-being and strengthen community resilience across Africa and Asia.

Under a four-year partnership signed by Karen Hanrahan, ChildFund's Chief Impact and Innovation Officer, and Jamal Safiulla, Schneider Electric's Vice President for Access to Energy, the two organizations will co-design and implement clean energy solutions for schools, health centers, smallholder farmers, and micro-enterprises in underserved communities.

The partnership builds on Schneider Electric's Access to Energy program, launched in 2009, which has worked with communities and organizations in more than 50 countries to deliver affordable, sustainable energy systems alongside training in operations, maintenance, and entrepreneurship. It connects that work to ChildFund's decades of experience designing locally led programs in health, education, livelihoods, protection, and humanitarian response.

The partnership will prioritize projects spanning community development and resilience, sustainable agriculture and livelihood development, education, skills development, and entrepreneurship, health services including prevention and care, and emergency and humanitarian response. Priority countries include Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Guinea, and The Gambia in Africa, and Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and India in Asia, with scope to expand as the partnership develops.

"We rarely talk about energy as a children's issue, but it should be one of the first things we discuss. A clinic without reliable power cannot safely refrigerate vaccines. A school without electricity cannot run evening classes or provide access to digital learning tools. A farmer without power cannot operate irrigation pumps or processing equipment that improve productivity and incomes. And when homes lack lighting after dark, daily life becomes more difficult and less safe. This partnership allows us to address a foundational constraint that affects health, education, livelihoods, and the safety and well-being that underpin them all," said Karen Hanrahan, Chief Impact and Innovation Officer, ChildFund International.

"Access to reliable electricity is a catalyst for better education, healthcare, livelihoods, and improved socio-economic conditions. Through our partnership with ChildFund, we are combining clean energy solutions with deep community engagement to create lasting impact for children and families. This collaboration is a testament to Schneider Electric's Sustainability Impact 2030 commitment to accelerate access to reliable electricity for 100 million people by 2030, ensuring that progress reaches those who need it most." said Jamal Safiulla, Global Vice President, Access to Energy, Schneider Electric.

Through this partnership, Schneider Electric's Access to Energy team will provide technical guidance and advisory support and renewable energy products for co-designed projects. The company will also support training and capacity-building in electrical skills and system operation and maintenance. ChildFund, in turn, will lead community needs assessments and youth and community consultations to inform project design, and facilitate relationships with local communities and government institutions. 

About ChildFund 

ChildFund International is a global child-focused development organization working to help children and young people grow up healthy, educated, skilled, and safe. Partnering with communities, governments, and the private sector across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, ChildFund designs programs that respond to locally identified priorities.

About Schneider Electric's Access to Energy Program

Launched in 2009, Schneider Electric's Access to Energy program partners with communities and organizations to deliver affordable, sustainable energy solutions for health centers, schools, smallholder farmers, micro-enterprises, homes, and villages, paired with investment in local capacity, including entrepreneurship support and electrician training. 

For more information, contact: 

Maureen Siele, 
Communications Advisor, Africa
msiele@childfund.org 

Desy Pamela
Global Marketing and Communications, Access to Energy
Schneider Electric
desy.pamela@se.com

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