About 790 million people still live without electricity. Hundreds of millions more live with insufficient, unreliable, or unaffordable electricity. Universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services by 2030 is a prerequisite for improving the living and working conditions of the currently energy deprived populations. Through six workstreams— Integrated Electrification Strategies and Planning; Global Facility on Mini Grids; Off-Grid Solar (also known as Lighting Global); Leave No One Behind; Improving Livelihoods and Human Capital; and Financial Innovation for Electricity Access—ESMAP supports the development of new technologies like mini grids and solar home systems, provides targeted financing, and advises on long-term policy planning.
Innovative financing is required to reach the most vulnerable and disadvantaged segments of society
Mini grids have risen to prominence over the last few years and are poised to play a significant role in World Bank energy access programs going forward
The initiative on improving livelihoods and human capital aims at stimulating electricity demand, mainly for productive use and electricity connection of public facilities
Adoption and improvement of implementation of national electrification strategies and least-cost electrification plans that use geospatial electrification modelling to integrate grid, mini grid, and off-grid technologies
Working towards the provision of safe, reliable, and affordable electricity for host-communities and displaced populations (DPs)
The initiative aims to increase access to clean, reliable, and sustainable electricity provided by modern off-grid solar