This month, INSPIRE and Infra Impact hosted a powerful conversation on how renewable energy Community Trusts can strengthen their financial capacity to deliver meaningful impact. The turnout was exceptional, with great engagement and participation from trustees, IPP executives, policymakers, advisors, and development partners from across the country!
The webinar, “Collaboration to Unlock the Financial Capacity of RE Community Trusts,” explored the challenges and opportunities facing Community Trusts in South Africa’s renewable energy sector—and showcased practical financing solutions to redirect capital back to the communities these trusts are meant to serve.
Key Themes from the Conversation
The bigger picture – Speakers reminded us that South Africa’s renewable energy programme is not only about generating power, but also about restoring economic justice. Community ownership under REIPPPP was designed to ensure historically marginalised communities benefit as shareholders, not just bystanders.
Challenges facing Trusts – Many Community Trusts are constrained by poor financial structuring and burdensome shareholder loans, resulting in only “trickle dividends” reaching communities—often decades after projects begin. This gap between expectations and available funds creates disillusionment and frustration at community level.
Refinancing as a solution – Infra Impact introduced its Local Community Trust Debt Fund, a blended finance vehicle designed to refinance existing loans, reduce interest burdens, and release funds for social projects much earlier. This innovation aims to make community ownership practical, sustainable, and impactful.
Trust maturity matters – INSPIRE shared its Trust Maturity Framework, highlighting the need for strong governance, vision and strategy, and effective delivery. Strengthening these pillars, supported by the broader ecosystem, can help Trusts move from compliance-driven entities to true agents of development.
Global and local lessons – Panelists drew on experiences from South Africa and abroad—showing how innovative models such as cooperatives, joint ventures, and community-led companies can help communities retain ownership, voice, and value in the energy transition.
Catch Up on the Webinar
In case you missed it or want to revisit the rich discussion, you can access the full resources here:
- Watch the Webinar
- Presentation: Contextualizing Community Ownership in REIPPPP
- Presentation: Trust Maturity Framework
- Presentation: Local Community Trust Debt Fund
Looking Ahead
This webinar is part of INSPIRE’s Trust Matters project, which creates spaces for Community Trusts, regulators, funders, and practitioners to connect, learn, and collaborate for impact. The strong engagement we saw reaffirms the importance of working together to unlock the full potential of community ownership in South Africa’s just energy transition.
Stay connected for future sessions as we continue to strengthen the community trust ecosystem.
