The World Bank Group has approved US$160 million in financing to expand access to reliable, affordable and clean electricity in The Gambia and Togo while strengthening regional energy integration across West Africa.
The financing will support the Regional Access Increase and Sustainable Energy (RAISE) Project, which is being implemented in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) under the broader West Africa Regional Electricity Market Programme (REMP).
According to the World Bank, the project aims to address key barriers to electricity access, including limited infrastructure, high connection costs and weak sector capacity, through network expansion, policy reforms and increased private sector participation.
The Regional Director for Infrastructure at the World Bank, Franz Drees-Gross, said the project would not only expand electricity access but also strengthen the foundations of a more efficient and financially sustainable power sector.
Despite recent progress, West Africa remains one of the least electrified regions globally, with inadequate access to electricity continuing to constrain economic growth, service delivery and private sector development.
The World Bank said high generation costs, inadequate infrastructure and affordability challenges had slowed electrification in both The Gambia and Togo, particularly in rural and peri-urban communities.
It said the RAISE Project is expected to connect about one million people to electricity while creating new economic opportunities through expanded and modernised distribution networks and accelerated renewable energy development.
The project is also expected to stimulate employment by supporting businesses, agriculture, digital services and public institutions through improved electricity supply.
According to the World Bank, the initiative is projected to generate labour income equivalent to about 11,700 jobs annually, including approximately 2,500 in The Gambia and 9,200 in Togo, through direct and indirect economic activities.
The Bank said construction works and network expansion under the project would also create short-term employment while strengthening local technical capacity in the energy sector.
The RAISE Project builds on regional efforts that have already delivered more than 4,000 kilometres of transmission lines linking 14 West African countries, facilitating cross-border electricity trade and more efficient use of energy resources.
The World Bank’s Director for Africa Regional Programmes, Nathan Belete, said the project demonstrated the importance of regional cooperation in expanding electricity access, reducing costs and promoting inclusive economic development across West Africa.
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