A US$250,000 US dollars ESMAP grant helped support the reengagement of the World Bank in the Yemeni power sector through the 50 million IDA-funded Yemen Emergency Electricity Access Project.
ESMAP-funded studies were used to deter-mine the potential impact of off-grid solar power in Yemen, to understand the willingness of consumers to pay for those connections, and how to facilitate sales and market credit to rural and peri-urban households for small-scale solar home systems. ESMAP also supported the design and implementation of activities to finance those systems through subsidized microfinance packages and increase sales to women by modifying eligibility requirements to address lack of documentation to access credit and by holding consultations to inform women about the benefits of solar products.
The project is on target to surpass 100,000 households and electrify around 500 schools and health facilities and 40 water wells reaching 3.2 million plus beneficiaries. It serves as a model for similar projects in other fragile, conflict, and violence-affected (FCV) countries.