The World Bank’s West Africa Regional Power Integration and Electricity Access Programme has helped extend electricity access to more than three million people across the sub-region while creating thousands of jobs, strengthening utility companies and advancing cross-border electricity trade.
The initiative, which supports regional energy integration and improved electricity access, is aimed at delivering more affordable and reliable power to households, businesses and industries across West Africa.
According to results released by the World Bank, the programme has facilitated the construction of more than 4,000 kilometres of high-voltage transmission lines connecting the electricity grids of 15 West African countries.
The interconnected network allows power utilities to trade electricity across borders, helping countries improve energy security and make more efficient use of available generation capacity.
The programme has also significantly increased access to electricity in several countries. Between 2019 and 2025, more than three million people in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone and The Gambia gained access to electricity through investments in transmission and distribution infrastructure.
The World Bank said the upgrades have helped bring electricity to communities that previously lacked reliable power, creating opportunities for economic activity and improving living conditions.
The initiative has further contributed to improving the financial performance of utility companies in participating countries.
In Guinea-Bissau, the national utility moved from a monthly deficit of about US$1 million to recording a positive financial balance, while The Gambia’s utility returned to profitability after achieving cost savings of approximately 42 percent.
The programme has also generated substantial employment opportunities across the region. More than 52,000 direct and indirect jobs were created through the construction and operation of major transmission infrastructure projects.
The World Bank noted that the initiative demonstrates how regional cooperation in the energy sector can support economic growth, improve livelihoods and accelerate development across West Africa.
