ESMAP Newsletter | December 2025
HIGHLIGHT
In fiscal year 2025, ESMAP delivered significant results, including access to electricity for 21 million people and clean cooking solutions for 1.1 million. ESMAP initiatives also enabled 5,552 MW of new renewable energy capacity. Looking at cumulative achievements since fiscal year 2021, ESMAP’s support has helped 58 million people gain electricity access, 2 million benefited from clean cooking technologies, and contributed to 86,752 MW of renewable energy capacity.
BOARD APPROVALS
India: World Bank Approves Financing for Clean Air Programs in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh States
ESMAP was instrumental in the development of the clean air programs, complementing loan financing with targeted resources and expertise for clean energy solutions. These include promoting electric mobility, supporting MSMEs in transitioning to cleaner technologies, and advancing agricultural waste management practices. These interventions are essential for reducing emissions in key sectors like transport, industry, and agriculture, while also creating green jobs and improving public health outcomes.
Zimbabwe: Renewable Energy Procurement Technical Assistance Project
ESMAP was instrumental in enabling this renewable energy project in Zimbabwe by providing a US$1.5 million grant through the Sustainable Renewables Risk Mitigation Initiative (SRMI). This support allowed the Government of Zimbabwe to design and adopt a competitive procurement framework for Independent Power Producers (IPPs), ensuring transparency and attracting private sector investment in renewable energy. ESMAP’s funding also helped tender at least two solar PV sites totaling 140 MW, serving as pilots to refine the procurement process.
Beyond financing, ESMAP delivered capacity-building programs for government officials, equipping them with the skills to manage IPP risks, negotiating contracts effectively, and creating a sustainable renewable energy market.
>> Learn more
World Bank Supports Greater Access to Energy and Broadband Services in Rural Mozambique
ESMAP was a key partner in making this transformative access to energy project possible. Beyond the World Bank’s US$300 million IDA grant, ESMAP provided targeted technical and financial support to scale clean energy solutions. Most notably, ESMAP’s Clean Cooking Fund contributed US$5 million to expand access to modern cooking technologies in underserved areas, reducing health risks for women and children and cutting reliance on traditional biomass. This funding complements broader electrification efforts by ensuring households benefit from safe, affordable, and sustainable cooking options alongside electricity access.
Angola: World Bank Approves US$350 million for the Huila-Cunene Interconnection Project
ESMAP played a pivotal role in making the RETRADE Angola project possible. ESMAP provided a grant that facilitated south–south learning during project preparation—an essential component highlighted in the board approval blog—enabling Angolan stakeholders to engage in peer exchanges, including lessons from Brazil, and to refine legal and regulatory frameworks that set the stage for Angola to embrace a public–private partnership (PPP) model for its national grid infrastructure. Beyond financial support, ESMAP’s MARCOT (Energy Markets, Connectivity, and Regional Trade) initiative has been instrumental in shaping the “soft infrastructure” necessary for successful power integration. Under MARCOT, ESMAP supplied specialized expertise and grant resources to help design transparent electricity market rules, coordinate technical and commercial protocols, and streamline cross-border trade mechanisms. These efforts have directly strengthened the enabling environment alongside the hard infrastructure of the Angola–Namibia interconnector, paving the way for Angola’s integration into the SAPP and bolstering regional power security.
>> Learn more
IMPACT STORY
Closing the Energy Gap: The Zambia–Tanzania Interconnector
The Zambia–Tanzania Interconnector is a landmark investment in African energy security. ESMAP played a central and strategic role in realizing the interconnector, contributing both financial resources and expert guidance. It provided £17 million (approx. US$17 million) in grant financing through the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to support the project and co-financed preparatory work via the Advancing Regional Energy Projects in Southern and Eastern Africa MDTF. ESMAP also backed in-kind contributions and technical assistance during the project’s preparation and now continues to do so during implementation. Beyond financing, ESMAP delivered technical assistance and expert guidance to structure the concept, design procurement frameworks, and establish transparent, investor-friendly regulations. These contributions underscore ESMAP’s role in bridging Zambia’s hydro-reliant energy gaps by enabling cross-border electricity trade, capacity-building, and mobilizing regional financing.
>> Watch the Video | Follow the Conversation on LinkedIn
NEWS
Additional Financing and Restructuring for the Eskom Just Energy Transition Project
ESMAP provided a US$2.5 million grant to support the additional financing and restructuring of the Eskom Just Energy Transition Project (Komati, P177398). This funding covered engineering activities under the decommissioning component and preparatory work for solar PV and battery storage. This is a key step in fast-tracking implementation during a critical phase marked by load shedding and leadership changes at Eskom. ESMAP originally provided a US$10 million grant that enabled the project’s design and initial execution. This included technical assistance to support the development of procurement frameworks, feasibility studies, and institutional capacity-building to ensure that decommissioning, repurposing with renewables, and community transition components could be implemented effectively.
>> Learn more
First Offshore Wind Auction Launches in The Philippines
Building on years of groundwork, The Philippines has launched its first offshore wind auction, marking a major step toward unlocking 3.3 GW of fixed-bottom offshore wind capacity. Supported by ESMAP’s technical assistance, this milestone positions the country to become one of Asia’s most dynamic offshore wind markets through an ambitious, market-responsive auction design.
>> Learn more
BLOGS
Planning for Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) Investments in Sub-Saharan Africa
ESMAP has been a catalyst for advancing Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) in Sub-Saharan Africa, laying the groundwork for transformative energy solutions. In 2025, ESMAP organized a high-impact LDES study tour in the United States, giving African policymakers and energy leaders firsthand exposure to cutting-edge technologies such as hydrogen-based fuel cells and thermal storage systems. Building on this knowledge exchange, ESMAP is now driving technical assistance programs that help countries develop policy frameworks, regulatory standards, and least-cost investment roadmaps for LDES integration. It is also mobilizing funding and fostering partnerships to accelerate market development, while supporting pilot projects that demonstrate the viability of storage solutions for 8+ hours of energy delivery.
Infrastructure that Works for Women
ESMAP is driving transformative change by making energy access inclusive and gender-responsive. Through its clean-cooking programs, ESMAP is helping millions of women move away from harmful, time-consuming practices like cooking with firewood toward modern, affordable solutions that improve health, save time, and create economic opportunities. For example, in India and across Africa, ESMAP-supported initiatives have enabled women-run energy enterprises to distribute clean stoves, reducing indoor air pollution and freeing up hours for education and income-generating activities to create jobs. These efforts don’t stop at household benefits—they also empower women as leaders in the energy transition through regional alliances like WePOWER, RENEW MENA, and WEN-Africa, which mentor young professionals and open pathways into technical and leadership roles. Between January 2024 and November 2025, these networks launched over 7,000 initiatives, reaching more than 95,000 girls and women.
A Brighter Path: Women’s Fight for Safe Energy Access
Women’s safety in energy projects is often overlooked—but it is critical. This latest blog explores how women face risks of gender-based violence both as workers and consumers when infrastructure and workplace policies fail to consider their needs. ESMAP is addressing these challenges through its Energy Brief, which outlines practical solutions—from safer infrastructure and workplace reforms to community safeguards. Success stories from Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo show how these measures are creating safer, more inclusive energy projects.
PUBLICATION
Public Preferences for Economic Reforms Are Shaped More by Design Than Cost
ESMAP provided analytical and technical support for this study, funding the design and implementation of randomized survey experiments across five countries. Its contribution ensured robust evidence on how communication and reform design—rather than cost—shape public acceptance of energy price reforms, helping governments craft socially responsive policies.
>> Download the Report | Follow the Conversation on LinkedIn
RECENT EVENTS
Conference: Regional Network in Energy for Women in the Middle East and North Africa (RENEW MENA): Powering the Leap Forward: Women at the Nexus of Energy, Digital Transformation, and Jobs
From its inception, ESMAP stood behind RENEW MENA as a catalyst for change. At this regional conference, its support went far beyond funding—it shaped the conversation. By backing technical expertise and convening leaders, ESMAP ensured the dialogue moved past technology alone to tackle institutional readiness, data quality, and digital skills, all essential for women’s leadership in the energy transition. This commitment amplified efforts in education, mentorship, and partnerships, positioning women not just as participants but as innovators in fields like AI, cybersecurity, and data management. With ESMAP’s continued engagement, these initiatives are set to scale across MENA, driving a just and inclusive digital energy future.
>> Read the Recap | Read about Day One’s Reflection | Watch Anna Bjerde’s Video | Read the Article by H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, Egypt (Arabic) | Watch Video by RENEW MENA Leader (Arabic)
