Close to 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa - about two-thirds of the population - live without grid electricity. This lack of modern energy services severely limits educational and economic opportunities, as well as negatively impacting day-to-day quality of life and health. Those without ele... read morectricity often use polluting and expensive lighting sources such as kerosene lamps or candles, the fumes of which can cause serious health problems. Modern, high-quality off-grid lighting and energy products offer a real and sustainable alternative to the off-grid population.
Since running its first pilot projects in Ghana and Kenya in 2007, Lighting Africa has already enabled more than 35 million people across Africa to access clean, affordable, safer lighting and energy, and aims to reach 250 million more people by 2030. Lighting Africa is currently operational in 11 countries - Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, with plans to continue to extend our activities across the continent.
Lighting Africa is part of the World Bank Group’s contribution to Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All). It is implemented in partnership with the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the governments of Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
The Opportunity in Nigeria
Nigeria is Africa';s most populous country, with over 170 million people. However, about 60% of Nigerians live in off-grid locations. As a result many Nigerian households
