Energy

• Hydropower
• Nuclear Energy

Energy is the lifeline of a modern economy and a foundation for jobs and productivity. Without electricity, hospitals can’t operate, businesses can’t grow, and students can’t study after dark. Expanding access to reliable and affordable electricity can raise living standards, safeguard essential services, create jobs, drive digitalization, and help economies grow.

The jobs imperative makes energy access more urgent: Over the next 10–15 years, 1.2 billion young people will reach working age in emerging economies, while only about 420 million jobs are projected to be created. Expanding access to reliable, affordable electricity will be critical to closing that jobs gap.

Every country's energy challenge is different, shaped by its geography, resources, and development priorities. That’s why the World Bank Group supports countries in finding the energy mix that works best for them. Our goal goes beyond expanding access to electricity. It is about strengthening energy security, building resilient power systems, and ensuring that reliable power translates into opportunity. Reliable electricity helps businesses grow, farmers increase productivity, students learn, health facilities deliver better care, and communities create jobs and raise incomes.

Our approach focuses on three priorities: strengthening grids through digital tools and regional power trade, expanding energy supply, and managing emissions responsibly.

Worldwide, around 655 million people are without electricity, and millions more live without accessible, reliable, and affordable energy.  Two billion people, mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa, still rely on polluting fuels for cooking.At the same time, electricity demand is expected to double over the next decade in emerging economies, driven by increased manufacturing, rising use of cooling and heating, urbanization, and the world’s growing reliance on power-hungry AI.

Meeting this demand will require major investments in power generation, electricity grids, and energy storage. Annual investment in these sectors in developing countries must more than double by 2035—from $280 billion to $630 billion. More than half of that must come from the private sector. In 2024, private participation in infrastructure investment in developing countries totaled just $100.7 billion, still well below pre-COVID levels.

(Updated: October 2026)

Our approach prioritizes accessibility and affordability, manages emissions responsibly, and embraces the reality that context matters. We support countries in finding the energy mix that works best for them, providing them with more energy options across three areas:

We're optimizing electricity grids through digital solutions and cross-border trade while creating competitive markets. Strong electricity grids and utilities are at the heart of affordable, accessible electricity, and are critical to building resilient communities and vibrant economies, and job creation.   We are also deepening our support for regional power trade and cross-border connections.

We're expanding supply with renewables and natural gas where appropriate, helping countries meet growing demand, reduce power shortages, and support economic growth. Countries are also seeking WBG advice and financing to explore the feasibility of nuclear energy and prepare investments. The June 2025 agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency enables us to tap into its expertise and standards as we respond to demand from countries.

• Read about the WBG’s approach to nuclear energy and hydropower.

We're helping countries reduce emissions by retrofitting, repurposing, and retiring coal plants, supporting carbon capture for industry and power generation, and reducing methane leaks. The World Bank Group has not financed a new coal-fired power plant since 2010.

• Read more about the World Bank's Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) Partnership.

Private Sector Mobilization

Expanding energy access and reliability at the scale countries need will require far more investment than public resources alone can provide. Mobilizing private capital helps countries build the power infrastructure needed to support jobs, businesses, and essential services.The WBG iscreating scalable, program-level investment opportunities that de-risk and bundle projects, reduce transaction costs, and give investors the confidence to participate.

Mission 300 puts this approach into action in Africa. More than 72 million people—around 64 million through the World Bank Group and 8 million through the African Development Bank—have already gained access to electricity under Mission 300, across more than 40 countries as of October 1, 2026.

By combining country-led reforms, public financing, guarantees, blended finance, philanthropy, and private investment, Mission 300 is helping build energy markets across Africa. The WBG has mobilized nearly $11 billion to date for Mission 300. In addition, more than $30 billion in IDA resources and $5 billion through IFC and MIGA have been committed until 2030 to help catalyze private investment.

The Zafiri Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) Equity Vehicle demonstrates how concessional and commercial capital can be mobilized through a blended permanent-capital vehicle, bringing together multilateral, development finance, philanthropic, and commercial investors, including FirstRand. Zafiri is targeting $1 billion to finance mini-grids, solar home systems, productive-use energy, and clean cooking to help provide electricity to more than 10 million people by 2030.

Read more about Mission 300.

(Updated: October 2026)

The World Bank Group is scaling up its knowledge and financing to deliver faster, cost-efficient energy solutions, meeting growing demand while boosting job creation and growth. Countries have different needs and resources, which is why our approach prioritizes accessibility and affordability, manages emissions responsibly, and embraces the reality that context matters.

Over the last 10 years, the World Bank Group has committed about $100 billion to energy. Globally, 214.5 million people have gained new or improved access to electricitythrough our current programs, and we expect this number to grow to 575 million. Reliable power helps households improve living standards, enables businesses to grow, and supports job creation and essential services such as health care and education.

Mission 300: Powering a Brighter Future for Africa

Through Mission 300, the WBG has connected around 64 million people as of September 2026, with the African Development Bank connecting another 8 million.  In addition, more than 147,000 businesses have gained access to electricity, around 23,000 public institutions like hospitals and schools have been connected, and around 86,000 businesses have received equipment, like pumps or mills, to increase productivity and generate income.

Mission 300 is delivering access through projects that span the energy value chain—from access and generation to transmission, grid management, and metering. This includes:

• In Eastern and Southern Africa, the $5 billion Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) program will provide energy access to 100 million Africans across 20 countries over the next five years.

• The WBG’s regional integration approach in the energy sector supports the development of more efficient and resilient regional electricity markets (power pools). Key projects include the West Africa Power Pool master plan in which the WBG has enabled the construction and operationalization of more than 4,000 km of 225 – 330 kV transmission lines, connecting Sub-Saharan countries from Senegal to Nigeria.

• In Nigeria, under the $750 million Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) project, performance-based grant subsidies will deliver new or improved electricity access to 17.5 million people. To date, 8.2 million people have been connected. In addition, six new private sector mini-grid permits were issued in December 2025 with a combined capacity of 1.5 MW, expanding reliable power for small businesses, clinics, schools, and agro-processing, and creating the conditions for local job growth and improved service delivery.

(Updated: October 2026)

• World Bank Group Approach on Hydropower
• Power More With Less: Scaling Up Energy Efficiency for Growth and Energy Security
• Scaling Hydrogen Financing for Development
• Methane Management Roadmap for Oil and Gas in ASEAN