FONDATION 2IE ASSOCIATION

Their core work

2iE (Institut International d'Ingénierie de l'Eau et de l'Environnement) is a higher education and research institution based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, specializing in water, energy, and environmental engineering for African contexts. They serve as a key African partner in EU-Africa research partnerships on renewable energy and climate adaptation. Their applied work focuses on off-grid energy solutions for critical infrastructure such as hospitals and pharmacies across Africa, and on building innovation capacity for water and climate challenges on the continent.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

2iE's H2020 participation began in 2016 with broader water and climate innovation networking (AfriAlliance), then shifted decisively toward renewable energy from 2018 onward. The progression from PRE-LEAP-RE (a preparatory CSA) to the full LEAP-RE partnership and the large SophiA project shows a clear trajectory from network-building toward applied energy deployment. Their most recent and largest-funded project (SophiA, EUR 960K) signals a move from coordination roles into substantive technical implementation of off-grid energy systems.

2iE is moving from broad EU-Africa coordination activities toward hands-on implementation of off-grid renewable energy solutions for essential services in Africa — expect growing technical capacity in solar/hybrid energy systems.

How they like to work

2iE operates exclusively as a participant, never as coordinator — consistent with their role as a key African institutional partner brought into EU-led consortia. They work in large consortia (123 unique partners across 38 countries), suggesting they are a trusted African anchor institution that European coordinators seek out when projects need West African presence and expertise. Their repeat involvement in the LEAP-RE pipeline (preparatory phase then full project) indicates they build lasting partnerships rather than one-off engagements.

2iE has collaborated with 123 unique partners across 38 countries, reflecting their position as a bridge institution in EU-Africa research cooperation. Their network spans well beyond their home region, connecting West African research capacity with European institutions and funding.

What sets them apart

2iE is one of very few West African higher education institutions with sustained H2020 participation, making them a rare and valuable partner for any EU project requiring genuine African research capacity — not just a token African partner. Their engineering focus on water and energy gives them practical, applied expertise directly relevant to Africa's infrastructure gaps. For consortium builders targeting EU-Africa calls, 2iE brings both institutional credibility and on-the-ground implementation capability in Francophone West Africa.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SophiA
  By far their largest project (EUR 960K of EUR 1.1M total funding), focused on deploying off-grid energy solutions for hospitals and pharmacies in Africa — a concrete, high-impact application.
• LEAP-RE
  Flagship long-term EU-AU renewable energy partnership running until 2026, showing 2iE's role in the strategic EU-Africa energy research agenda.
• AfriAlliance
  Their first H2020 project, establishing the Africa-EU innovation alliance on water and climate that likely opened doors to subsequent energy partnerships.