By: Saidu Jalloh
The World Bank has approved a US$60 million financing package for Sierra Leone to expand access to electricity under the first phase of the Regional Programme for Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Solutions (Regional DARES).
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Energy on 25 June 2026, the funding forms part of a US$200 million regional financing package benefiting Benin, the Central African Republic, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The programme represents the first phase of a broader US$853 million regional initiative designed to expand access to renewable energy across West and Central Africa.
The Ministry stated that the investment will support Sierra Leone’s National Energy Compact under the Mission 300 Initiative, with a focus on expanding electricity access through solar home systems, mini-grids, and other off-grid renewable energy technologies.
The programme will primarily target rural and underserved communities where extending the national electricity grid is either technically difficult or prohibitively expensive, helping to bridge the country’s longstanding energy access gap.
According to the Ministry, only 36 percent of Sierra Leone’s population currently has access to electricity. Through the Regional DARES programme, the project is expected to mobilize an additional US$54 million in private sector investment, while providing reliable electricity to more than 1.2 million people and approximately 24,000 businesses across the country.
The Ministry noted that improved access to electricity will deliver far-reaching social and economic benefits. Households, schools, healthcare facilities, and businesses are expected to benefit from more reliable power, while farmers, small enterprises, and cooperatives will be better positioned to increase productivity, improve incomes, and create employment opportunities.
The programme is also expected to accelerate Sierra Leone’s transition to clean, affordable, and climate-resilient energy while promoting greater participation of women and young people in the renewable energy sector.
Minister of Energy Cyril Grant described the World Bank’s approval as a major milestone in the Government’s efforts to achieve universal access to electricity.
“The approval of Regional DARES is another important step towards achieving universal access to electricity in Sierra Leone. Distributed renewable energy offers the fastest and most practical way to reach many of our rural communities. This investment will help bring reliable electricity to households, schools, health facilities, and businesses while creating opportunities for economic growth. We are committed to ensuring that these resources deliver real benefits for the people of Sierra Leone,” Minister Grant said.
The Ministry also expressed appreciation to the World Bank Group and other development partners for their continued support, noting that their collaboration has been instrumental in advancing the country’s energy sector reforms.
It further explained that the Regional DARES programme builds on ongoing initiatives and recent investments in Sierra Leone’s energy sector, including the RESPITE Project, with the objective of strengthening electricity infrastructure, increasing renewable energy deployment, and encouraging greater private sector participation.
The Government believes the project will play a vital role in expanding access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity, while supporting economic growth, improving public services, and enhancing the quality of life for millions of Sierra Leoneans.