Programme · SADC
Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (a pooled fund for cross-border power lines)
Record SAPP-P-0002 · draft, not yet reviewed by a person
Cite as: Laurence Wilse-Samson, Bridging African Borders, record SAPP-P-0002: "SAPP's transmission financing facility" (public draft, built 2026-10-30). https://borders.lwilsesamson.com/ideas/sapp-p-0002/ Data and citation
Status by track
DeliveryDrafted · Feb 2026sources checked 30 Oct 2026
In 2022 SADC, with World Bank support, was studying how to set the facility up. Climate Fund Managers was named as its manager in March 2024. SAPP and the manager signed off the term sheet in February 2026 and the establishment agreement by March 2026, and SAPP decided to set the facility up in Mauritius. By June 2026 SAPP was still preparing talks with member utilities on which projects it would fund. That the facility has invested in any project was not found in the sources read.
- design studies under way"the Secretariat with support from the World Bank is undertaking studies for the establishment and operationalisation of the SADC Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (RTIFF)" "the Secretariat with support from the World Bank is undertaking studies for the establishment and operationalisation of the SADC Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (RTIFF)"wording checked against the document42nd SADC Summit, Democratic Republic of Congo, 17-18 August 2022 (Summit brochure) · printed p.69 (PDF p.71), Operationalisation of the SADC Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility; Summit brochure, August 2022 · wording checked against the document
- treasury and energy officials' workshop · 19 Sep 2022officials responsible for treasury and energy met in Johannesburg "on 19th September 2022 to deliberate on the proposal to develop a Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (RTIFF)"; the recommendations were to go to the SADC Committee of Ministers of Finance and Investment officials responsible for treasury and energy met in Johannesburg "on 19th September 2022 to deliberate on the proposal to develop a Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (RTIFF)"; the recommendations were to go to the SADC Committee of Ministers of Finance and Investmentwording checked against the documentSADC explores sustainable solutions to challenges of financing projects for energy transmission infrastructure · news item text · wording checked against the document
- fund manager named · 4 Mar 2024at a media briefing on 4 March 2024 "CFM announced their role as Fund Manager for the Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (RTIFF)" at a media briefing on 4 March 2024 "CFM announced their role as Fund Manager for the Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (RTIFF)"wording checked against the documentSAPP Monthly Report, April 2024 · PDF p.3, Update on SAPP Projects · wording checked against the document
- legal structuring, April 2025 · Apr 2025progress in April 2025 "was modest"; the African Legal Support Facility confirmed legal counsel, and "No additional technical or governance milestones were finalized in April" progress in April 2025 "was modest"; the African Legal Support Facility confirmed legal counsel, and "No additional technical or governance milestones were finalized in April"wording checked against the documentSAPP Monthly Report, April 2025 · PDF p.6, Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (RTIFF) · wording checked against the document
- decision to establish the facility in Mauritius · Nov 2025in November 2025 SAPP sent the manager an updated term sheet reflecting "the Executive Committee’s decision to establish the RTIFF in Mauritius" in November 2025 SAPP sent the manager an updated term sheet reflecting "the Executive Committee’s decision to establish the RTIFF in Mauritius"wording checked against the documentSAPP Quarterly Report, October to December 2025 · PDF p.8, Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (RTIFF) · wording checked against the document
- term sheet signed off · Feb 2026"SAPP CC has successfully concluded and signed off on the agreed RTIFF Term Sheet with Climate Fund Managers (CFM)"; the next phase is to identify "a pipeline of potential projects eligible for funding under the RTIFF framework" "SAPP CC has successfully concluded and signed off on the agreed RTIFF Term Sheet with Climate Fund Managers (CFM)"; the next phase is to identify "a pipeline of potential projects eligible for funding under the RTIFF framework"wording checked against the documentSAPP Monthly Report, February 2026 · PDF p.6, Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (RTIFF) · wording checked against the document
- term sheet and establishment agreement signed off · Q1 2026"SAPP CC and Climate Fund Managers (CFM) finalized updates to both the RTIFF Term Sheet and the Establishment Agreement, culminating in formal sign-off"; a memorandum of understanding with project sponsors was under legal review "SAPP CC and Climate Fund Managers (CFM) finalized updates to both the RTIFF Term Sheet and the Establishment Agreement, culminating in formal sign-off"; a memorandum of understanding with project sponsors was under legal reviewwording checked against the documentSAPP Quarterly Report, January to March 2026 · PDF p.12-13, Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (RTIFF) · wording checked against the document
- utility engagement on the project pipeline · target: Jun 2026"The utility engagement programme has now been aligned to commence in June 2026 in order to coincide with the rollout of the World Bank RETRADE Programme" "The utility engagement programme has now been aligned to commence in June 2026 in order to coincide with the rollout of the World Bank RETRADE Programme"wording checked against the documentSAPP Monthly Report, April 2026 · PDF p.6, Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (RTIFF) · wording checked against the document
- utility engagement still being prepared"Preparations are therefore underway to coordinate the next phase of utility engagements, including the scheduling of meetings" "Preparations are therefore underway to coordinate the next phase of utility engagements, including the scheduling of meetings"wording checked against the documentSAPP Quarterly Report, April to June 2026 · PDF p.8, Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (RTIFF); report for April to June 2026 · wording checked against the document
- Zimbabwe's plan to use the facility for MOZISA and ZiZaBoNa · target: Q4 2025"Continue to support the ongoing SAPP’s Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (from 2023) to fast-track the implementation of prioritized local transmission lines and interconnectors such as MOZISA and ZIZABONA by Q4 2025." "Continue to support the ongoing SAPP’s Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (from 2023) to fast-track the implementation of prioritized local transmission lines and interconnectors such as MOZISA and ZIZABONA by Q4 2025."wording checked against the documentNational Energy Compact for the Republic of Zimbabwe (Mission 300) · PDF p.33, Pillar II, Regional Integration · wording checked against the document
Not established
- Whether the facility has been incorporated in Mauritius, and whether it has made any investment. Not found in the sources read; the latest SAPP report read covers April to June 2026.
- Which projects are in its pipeline. The reports say the pipeline submitted at the Mission 300 compact session is the baseline, but the list was not found in the sources read.
FundingTargeted · 2025, outcome not verifiedsources checked 30 Oct 2026
- initial capital sought · undated"RTIFF aspires to raise an initial US$300-500 million of capital to support investments in priority regional transmission lines" "RTIFF aspires to raise an initial US$300-500 million of capital to support investments in priority regional transmission lines"wording checked against the document42nd SADC Summit, Democratic Republic of Congo, 17-18 August 2022 (Summit brochure) · printed p.69 (PDF p.71) · wording checked against the document
- first close of US$500 million · target: 2025the facility "targets a first close of $500 million in 2025" the facility "targets a first close of $500 million in 2025"wording checked against the documentClimate Fund Managers to manage major southern Africa power infrastructure facility · article text · wording checked against the document
- final close of US$1.3 billion · undatedthe facility targets "a final close of $1.3 billion within 24 months" the facility targets "a final close of $1.3 billion within 24 months"wording checked against the documentClimate Fund Managers to manage major southern Africa power infrastructure facility · article text · wording checked against the document
- first close still ahead, December 2025 · Dec 2025in December 2025 SAPP and the manager worked on extending the existing Establishment Agreement, "with the objective of aligning it to the RTIFF fund first close" in December 2025 SAPP and the manager worked on extending the existing Establishment Agreement, "with the objective of aligning it to the RTIFF fund first close"wording checked against the documentSAPP Quarterly Report, October to December 2025 · PDF p.8, Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (RTIFF) · wording checked against the document
Not established
- Whether the facility has reached a first close, and how much has been raised. Not found in the sources read; the 2025 target passed with no announcement found.
Financing
What the sources say this costs and who is putting money in. All projects' financing
- Southern African Power Pool to Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility · Form not stated · USD 20 million (commitment as stated by SAPP and SADC) · stage: IdentifiedSAPP's Executive Director said that "SAPP has formally committed US$20 million as anchor investment to RTIFF" SAPP's Executive Director said that "SAPP has formally committed US$20 million as anchor investment to RTIFF"wording checked against the documentSADC explores sustainable solutions to challenges of financing projects for energy transmission infrastructure · news item text · wording checked against the document"SAPP EXCO committed USD 20 million anchor investment from the SAPP Congestion Management fees into RTIFF" "SAPP EXCO committed USD 20 million anchor investment from the SAPP Congestion Management fees into RTIFF"wording checked against the documentSAPP Annual Report 2022 · printed p.11 (PDF p.12) · wording checked against the documentTerms: currency of debt not stated by the source; rate not stated by the source; tenor not stated by the source; grace period not stated by the source; guarantee not stated by the source.
Not established
- Whether SAPP's US$20 million has been paid in, and whether it is equity or another instrument. Not found in the sources read.
- Commitments from any other investor. Not found in the sources read.
Sources checked 30 Oct 2026. Amounts are shown in the currency the source gives, never converted or added together.
Making projects bankable
A measure meant to make projects financeable. All such measures
Blended finance. A regional fund, managed by Climate Fund Managers for SAPP, meant to pool public and private money to lend to and invest in cross-border transmission lines, with a smaller development fund for project preparation and a larger construction fund. It has not been found to have raised money beyond SAPP's own commitment.
Evidence that it exists
- fund manager named (4 Mar 2024)at a media briefing on 4 March 2024 "CFM announced their role as Fund Manager for the Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (RTIFF)" at a media briefing on 4 March 2024 "CFM announced their role as Fund Manager for the Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (RTIFF)"wording checked against the documentSAPP Monthly Report, April 2024 · PDF p.3, Update on SAPP Projects · wording checked against the document
- term sheet and establishment agreement signed off (During this quarter (January to March 2026))"SAPP CC and Climate Fund Managers (CFM) finalized updates to both the RTIFF Term Sheet and the Establishment Agreement, culminating in formal sign-off"; a memorandum of understanding with project sponsors was under legal review "SAPP CC and Climate Fund Managers (CFM) finalized updates to both the RTIFF Term Sheet and the Establishment Agreement, culminating in formal sign-off"; a memorandum of understanding with project sponsors was under legal reviewwording checked against the documentSAPP Quarterly Report, January to March 2026 · PDF p.12-13, Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility (RTIFF) · wording checked against the document
- first close of US$500 million (2025)the facility "targets a first close of $500 million in 2025" the facility "targets a first close of $500 million in 2025"wording checked against the documentClimate Fund Managers to manage major southern Africa power infrastructure facility · article text · wording checked against the document
Who carries the risk, and what it costs
- SADC's Deputy Executive Secretary said member states and their utilities were "not necessarily required to participate as investors because RTIFF will be a funding platform that complements Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) lending with pooled debt" SADC's Deputy Executive Secretary said member states and their utilities were "not necessarily required to participate as investors because RTIFF will be a funding platform that complements Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) lending with pooled debt"wording checked against the documentSADC explores sustainable solutions to challenges of financing projects for energy transmission infrastructure · news item text · wording checked against the document
- the facility would consider "accessing non-returnable grant financing initially", "providing pooled debt funding" and "arranging and making equity investment, when supported or desired by the Member States" the facility would consider "accessing non-returnable grant financing initially", "providing pooled debt funding" and "arranging and making equity investment, when supported or desired by the Member States"wording checked against the document42nd SADC Summit, Democratic Republic of Congo, 17-18 August 2022 (Summit brochure) · printed p.69 (PDF p.71) · wording checked against the document
- a "$100 million target “Development Fund”" for concessional capital and development support, and a "$1.2 billion target “Construction Fund”" for construction finance a "$100 million target “Development Fund”" for concessional capital and development support, and a "$1.2 billion target “Construction Fund”" for construction financewording checked against the documentClimate Fund Managers to manage major southern Africa power infrastructure facility · article text · wording checked against the document
Not established
- What the facility will charge borrowers, and who bears losses first if a project fails. Not found in the sources read.
- Whether ZiZaBoNa is in its pipeline. Zimbabwe's Mission 300 compact names the facility as a way to fast-track ZiZaBoNa and MOZISA (delivery track); no SAPP report read lists the pipeline.
This records that the measure exists and how far it has got. It is not evidence that it made any project happen.
Institutions named
A role is shown only where a quoted source says what the institution does on this reform.
Reach: 0 cross-border links, 0 blockers, 3 institutions in 2 countries or bodies. Counted from the records.