Executive Summary

We are excited to share learnings from a ground-breaking collaboration between three investment funds (AGG, OGEF, and EEGF) that sought to tackle one of the off-grid solar sector's most pressing challenges: electronic waste management. Published on 01 September 2025, this 8-month case study between Cygnum Capital, Triple Jump and dss+ describes the approach and lessons learned from a tailored 8-month technical assistance (TA) programme, supporting off-grid solar (OGS) companies across Africa with e-waste management and circularity topics.

The case study is intended to spark conversations within organisations on how to best shape efforts to enable more effective OGS e-waste management. The lessons learned – both success factors and challenges – are laid out transparently; it is hoped that this experience informs and inspires more such efforts to address the important social, environmental, and economic issue that is OGS e-waste.

‍The Challenge We Addressed‍

As off-grid solar products reach end-of-life across Africa, we are facing a growing environmental and social challenge. E-waste management isn't just about compliance - it's about building sustainable energy access for the future. Yet for most solar companies, it remains a burden, rather than an opportunity.

‍Our Collaborative Approach‍

Working with 15 companies across 10+ African countries, we designed the first joint technical assistance programme between fund Technical Assistance Facilities. This collaboration allowed us to:

- Reduce duplication and save companies' time
- Create market-level impact beyond individual portfolio companies
- Pool expertise and resources for greater effectiveness

Key Insights That Emerged
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🔍 The Reality Check:

E-waste is often seen as an "investor relations issue" rather than an operational opportunity
Missing local infrastructure for collection and treatment creates systemic barriers
Companies with dedicated "e-waste champions" showed remarkable progress

💡 What Works:

Face-to-face engagement significantly outperformed digital sessions
New staff members became key champions, using TA for their own development
Investor presence in sessions actually increased company participation

⚠️ Critical Barriers:

Limited end-user awareness and trust in returning old products
Difficulty finding reliable, licensed e-waste management providers
Disconnect between operational teams and top management on e-waste priorities

The Path Forward
Our findings highlight that technical assistance alone isn't enough. Effective e-waste management requires:

- Infrastructure investment in collection and treatment facilities
- Policy coordination at regional levels
- Financing mechanisms that incentivize responsible practices
- Systemic thinking beyond individual company solutions

‍Why This Matters
As the off-grid solar market matures, how we handle end-of-life products will define the sector's long-term sustainability and social license to operate. This programme demonstrates that collaborative approaches between funders can create meaningful impact—but also reveals the scale of systemic change needed.
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Looking Ahead
The lessons from this programme are already informing how we design future technical assistance initiatives. We're moving from viewing e-waste as a compliance requirement to seeing it as an integral part of sustainable business strategy.
For fellow investors, fund managers, and solar companies: How are you approaching e-waste management in your portfolios? The challenges are complex, but the collaborative solutions are emerging.
This case study represents the first cooperation between fund Technical Assistance Facilities and offers valuable insights for the broader impact investing and sustainable energy communities.

Key takeaway: Systemic challenges require collaborative solutions. When funders work together with clear frameworks and realistic expectations, we can drive market-level change that benefits everyone.