World Bank-backed program targets faster electricity expansion across Lesotho

Lesotho will receive a $50 million IDA credit to accelerate electricity access through grid expansion and off-grid renewable solutions. The initiative aims to reach nearly 147,000 people and businesses, support economic development, strengthen energy institutions, and advance the country's universal electrification objectives.

Lesotho has secured a $50 million financing package from the International Development Association (IDA), part of the World Bank Group, to expand electricity access across underserved regions of the country. According to official disclosures, the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) project will combine conventional grid expansion with standalone solar systems to connect households and businesses in urban, rural, and mountainous communities.

The initiative addresses a significant access gap despite improvements in recent years. National household electrification reached 59% in 2024, but rural access remains substantially lower than in urban areas. The program is designed to help accelerate connection rates and support the country's long-term objective of achieving broader electricity coverage.

Beyond infrastructure deployment, the project includes support for utility-sector reforms, electrification planning, renewable energy adoption, and clean-cooking initiatives. Off-grid solar solutions are expected to play a key role in remote highland regions where extending transmission infrastructure is economically challenging.

The program forms part of the wider ASCENT regional framework in Eastern and Southern Africa and aligns with Mission 300, a joint effort by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank to expand electricity access across the continent by 2030. For businesses and investors, improved power availability could enhance operating conditions for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, strengthen energy security, and create a more attractive environment for private-sector investment. The World Bank Group is a multilateral development institution that provides financing and technical assistance to support economic growth and development globally.