In 2009, the World Bank established the Africa Renewable Energy and Access (AFREA) program to focus on the special needs of the energy sector in Africa, where limited access to modern energy constrains development and the opportunity presents itself to leapfrog to cleaner renewable energy supplies, instead of “locking in” to conventional carbon dioxide laden fossil fuels. The Bank set up AFREA as part of its Energy Sector Management Assessment Program and Clean Energy Investment Framework. This report provides a retrospective overview on AFREA Phase I achievements and lessons learned.