The World Bank has approved the $424 million Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) in Ethiopia Program-for-Results to provide clean and reliable electricity to nearly six million people, supported by a $400 million IDA credit and a $24 million grant from Denmark. Building on previous electrification initiatives, the five-year program will expand on-grid connections, strengthen policies, improve utility performance, and promote inclusive access for low-income and underserved communities. Led by the Ministry of Water and Energy with the Ethiopian Electric Utility, ASCENT aims to cut connection costs for 480,000 new customers, encourage private sector participation, and advance Ethiopia toward universal energy access, aligning with the Mission 300 goal to connect 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.
