IKEA, SNV launch €45m East Africa program

Key Figures & Findings: The IKEA Foundation and SNV have launched the €45 million Power for Food Partnership, a five-year initiative to strengthen locally led food and energy systems across Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Kenya. By linking regenerative agriculture (RA) with the productive use of renewable energy (PURE), the partnership aims to move beyond siloed approaches and create integrated solutions that improve livelihoods, reduce environmental stress, and expand economic opportunity. Both organizations bring long-standing experience: SNV with 60 years in African and Asian development programs, and the IKEA Foundation with more than €1.5 billion in global climate and poverty-related grants since 2009.

Insights: In East Africa, nearly 80% of the rural population works in agriculture, yet fewer than 1 in 10 rural households are connected to the grid. Uganda faces projected maize yield losses of up to 10% due to shifting climate patterns, underscoring the urgency of solutions that combine energy access and resilient farming practices.

Future Implications: If successful, the partnership could accelerate the adoption of solar irrigation, cold storage, and agro-processing technologies while fostering regenerative soil practices, policy reform, and greater inclusion of women and youth in decision-making. Outcomes are expected to shape more resilient agri-food and energy systems in East Africa by 2030.

Source: SNV

Quick Take: By combining IKEA Foundation’s funding power with SNV’s grassroots expertise, the Power for Food partnership seeks to connect agriculture and energy for systemic change in East Africa.