The World Bank Board of Executive Directors has approved a $200 million grant from the International Development Association (IDA) for the 13th phase of the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) Program in Zambia. The project aims to provide reliable and sustainable energy services to more than one million people in Zambia over the next five years.
The ASCENT Zambia project is designed to connect people living in remote and underserved areas, as well as supply affordable power to businesses and industries. The initiative will also build on previous pilot projects, invest in new technologies, and help local communities develop skills needed to manage energy infrastructure.
“The ASCENT Zambia project is a testament of the World Bank’s commitment to supporting sustainable energy access for all Zambians in line with the Zambia National Energy Compact, under the Mission 300 Initiative,” said Yadviga Viktorivna Semikolenova, World Bank Practice Manager for Energy for Eastern and Southern Africa. “We are excited to embark on this new phase and look forward to the positive impact it will have on local communities.”
The ASCENT Program uses a multi-phase approach across Eastern and Southern Africa to support the Mission 300 target of providing electricity access to 300 million people by 2030. The current effort in Zambia represents the thirteenth phase of this regional program.
“Partnerships are key to the success of the ASCENT Zambia project,” said Achim Fock, World Bank Country Manager for Zambia. “We are grateful for the support of all partners and look forward to working together to help foster economic growth in Zambia through the provision of reliable energy to businesses and industries.”
The International Development Association (IDA), part of the World Bank since 1960, provides grants and low- or zero-interest loans aimed at boosting economic growth, reducing poverty, and improving lives in some of the world’s poorest countries. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for these nations—74 countries qualify, including 39 in Africa—and has delivered $496 billion since its founding. In recent years, about 70 percent of its annual commitments have gone toward African countries. More information about IDA can be found at https://ida.worldbank.org/.