ESMAP Newsletter | October 2025
Knowledge Café - Energy & Digital Transformation: Powering Data Centers
Powering data centers can drive economic transformation, creating quality jobs and inclusive growth in emerging markets.
During this joint ESMAP and Digital Vice-presidency Knowledge Café, participants explored how to enable an ecosystem for job creation using renewable energy, grid modernization, and energy efficiency to meet soaring demands from data centers for cloud services and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Through new World Bank research and case studies, experts shared best practices and actionable policies to power data centers to unlock job creation across the digital services economy and AI innovations.
State of the Africa Region 2025: Powering Job Creation in Africa
Every year, 11 million young Africans seek work, but just 3 million jobs are created. During this event, jointly organized by the World Bank Africa Regions, ESMAP and IFC and grounded in Africa’s Pulse October 2025 Report, participants discussed how to create jobs in sectors of opportunity, with a special focus on energy. Energy is the backbone of job creation—powering businesses, fueling productivity, and human capital development. Affordable and reliable energy, as outlined by the Mission 300 initiative, has the potential to create new business opportunities, enhance productivity across various sectors, and increase access to quality employment—including in remote rural regions.
>> Watch the Replay | ESMAP at the Core of Mission 300
BOARD APPROVAL
New World Bank Support to Help Indonesia Transform Its Electricity Grid Benefiting Millions
The World Bank today approved the Indonesia Electricity Network Transformation (I-ENET) Program, a US$500 million operation to help Indonesia modernize its electricity distribution system in the Java, Madura, and Bali regions. The Program will support Indonesia’s energy sector development goals by expanding the integration of renewable energy and accelerating the digital transformation of the electricity grid. Over the years, ESMAP has played a pivotal role in supporting Indonesia’s transition to sustainable, lower-cost electricity by funding technical assistance and innovative climate finance mechanisms that enable expanded renewable energy access and reduced generation costs.
BLOG
From Grid to Road: Rwanda’s Journey to Electric Mobility
Rwanda has set its sights high. By 2030, one in five buses will be electric. By 2050, the fleet could grow to more than 4,100, with Battery Electric Buses leading the way. With the right policies, investments, and planning, the country can achieve its E-Mobility ambitions while maintaining a stable and sustainable grid.
PUBLICATIONS
Building the Energy Foundations for Rwanda’s Electric Mobility Transition
Rwanda is positioning itself at the forefront of Africa’s electric mobility transition. The Rwandan government and the World Bank/ESMAP launched the findings of the report Exploring Enabling Energy Frameworks for Electric Mobility in Rwanda. The report, published by the Quality Infrastructure Investment (QII) Partnership and ESMAP, serves as a blueprint for building the energy foundations necessary for Rwanda’s modern, sustainable economy.
A Responsible Data Sharing Framework for the Distributed Renewable Energy Sector
In collaboration with Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency, the World Bank is piloting a Responsible Data Sharing Framework (RDSF) for the distributed renewable energy sector. The framework was developed over the course of 12 months in 2024, through collaboration with some 25 stakeholders from government and the private sector. It embodies a shared ambition to turn data into better outcomes for the communities served. At its core, an RDSF for the sector sets out how appropriate data about projects can be shared in ways that are efficient and effective.
VIDEO
Scaling Up Clean Energy and Clean Cooking in Burundi through the SOLEIL–Nyakiriza Project
The Solar Energy Project in Local Communities – known as Soleil-Nyakiriza – is an initiative of the Government of Burundi. The project aims to improve the daily lives of hundreds of thousands of people without access to reliable energy, particularly health centers, schools, and vulnerable households. ESMAP’s support enabled the design of Burundi’s first multi-layered maintenance model, linking performance-based payments through the national PBF health mechanism, district-level maintenance workshops for biomedical and solar PV maintenance technicians, a forthcoming national maintenance center in Bujumbura, and digital remote monitoring – now being designed and to be adopted as a national blueprint.
>> Watch the Video: English | French | Kirundi
PAST EVENTS
Launch of Joint Learning Series: Electrifying Africa: Delivering on Mission 300 Faster, Together
The World Bank Africa Region and ESMAP have launched a new learning series to highlight the outcomes of Electrifying Africa-supported activities and promote cross-country knowledge exchange in the region. The series will feature ESMAP’s support to Africa, particularly through the Electrifying Africa Program and ESMAP’s Foundations and Transition programs. This work has been crucial in providing just-in-time technical assistance and project preparation support for Mission 300 operations.
The Malawi team kicked off the series by focusing on the Ngwee Ngwee Fund, an off-grid solar and clean cooking facility, that has helped Malawi double electricity access to over 25% in less than three years (2022–2025). hf
>> Learn more
UPCOMING EVENT
