Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The World Bank Group has approved a US$160 million financing package to expand access to reliable and affordable electricity in The Gambia and Togo, with the initiative expected to connect nearly one million people and create thousands of jobs across the two countries.
The funding will support the Regional Access Increase and Sustainable Energy (RAISE) Project, which will be implemented in partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) under the broader West Africa Regional Electricity Market Program.
According to the World Bank, the project seeks to address key barriers to electricity access in the region, including inadequate infrastructure, high connection costs, and limited institutional capacity within the energy sector.
In both The Gambia and Togo, households and businesses continue to face challenges in accessing reliable electricity due to costly power generation and insufficient distribution networks, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas.
The RAISE Project aims to tackle these challenges by expanding electricity networks, lowering connection costs, and supporting the development of renewable energy sources.
The World Bank estimates that the project will generate labor income gains equivalent to approximately 11,700 jobs annually through direct and indirect economic activities. Of these, about 2,500 jobs are expected to be created in The Gambia and 9,200 in Togo.
Additional employment opportunities are also anticipated during the construction and network expansion phases.
Franz Drees-Gross, the World Bank’s Regional Director for Infrastructure, said the project combines network expansion with sector reforms and private-sector participation to improve electricity access while strengthening the long-term sustainability of the energy sector.
He said the initiative would not only extend electricity services to more people but also help establish a more efficient and financially viable power system.
The World Bank noted that improved access to reliable electricity is expected to stimulate growth in small businesses, agriculture, digital services, and other productive sectors, while reducing dependence on costly diesel-powered generation.
Nathan Belete, the World Bank Director for Africa Regional Programs, described the project as a demonstration of how regional cooperation can accelerate electrification, reduce costs, and unlock wider economic opportunities across West Africa.
The RAISE Project builds on years of regional collaboration that have already delivered more than 4,000 kilometers of transmission lines linking 14 West African countries and facilitating cross-border electricity trade.
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