The World Bank Group and African Development Bank Group (AfDB) are partnering on an ambitious effort to provide at least 300 million people in Africa with electricity access by 2030, the Bretton Woods institution said in a statement on Monday.
The statement said that the World Bank Group would work to connect 250 million people to electricity through distributed renewable energy systems or the distribution grid while the African Development Bank Group will support an additional 50 million people. Access to electricity is a fundamental human right and is foundational to any successful development effort.
Currently, 600 million Africans lack access to electricity, creating significant barriers to health care, education, productivity, digital inclusivity, and ultimately job creation. “Electricity access is the bedrock of all development. It is a critical ingredient for economic growth and essential for job creation at scale.
Our aspiration will only be realized with partnership and ambition. We will need policy action from governments, financing from multilateral development banks, and private sector investment to see this through,” said Ajay Banga, World Bank Group President.”
