About ESMAP

What We Do
ESMAP's Comparative Advantage
ESMAP's Areas of Focus
Where We Work
ESMAP's History
Who We Work With
How To Work With Us
Leadership & Governance
Our Results
From Our Donors

What We Do

ESMAP supports countries in securing universal energy access by 2030, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 7, while transitioning from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy solutions such as solar and wind power. ESMAP also helps countries increase their energy sectors’ climate resilience.

 

ESMAP turns evidence into action by conducting research and aggregating data to make policy recommendations and advising World Bank Group energy projects. It makes donor contributions available as grants for planning and feasibility studies and helps mobilizing financing from 3rd parties, incl. the private sector.

 

The ESMAP partnership is managed and staffed by the World Bank Group but funded separately by more than 20 donor governments and philanthropies.

ESMAP's Comparative Advantage

ESMAP is a think tank, connector, data gatherer, analyst, and innovator. It is one of the most authoritative global sources for solutions to achieve universal access to energy and decarbonization of energy systems. ESMAP analyzes energy markets, utility performance, policy and regulatory incentives, tariffs, standards, operational protocols, and rules around the world, identifying effective practices to offer countries innovative solutions that often lead to breakthroughs.

Through its integration with World Bank Group operations, ESMAP influences energy investments globally. It advises World Bank Group energy projects, often at design & early implementation stages. 

ESMAP’s expertise in raising funds turns ideas into projects. ESMAP’s status as part of the World Bank Group enables it to leverage concessional financing that incentivizes private investment in challenging sectors and regions.

ESMAP uses its convening power to forge lasting and impactful partnerships with developing country governments, multilateral banks, private capital markets, bilateral donors, foundations, carbon-market finance institutions, national laboratories, experts in energy technology companies, consulting firms, and academia. 

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Where We Work

ESMAP supports governments and partners in more than 100 countries worldwide, with a portfolio of over 350 projects spanning multiple regions, including Sub‑Saharan Africa, South and East Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

ESMAP's History

1970s oil crisis hit oil-importing developing countries hard. Rising prices put pressure on national budgets, depleting funding for other development priorities. In response, the World Bank and donors establish the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) trust fund. Its mandate: provide research, recommendations, and hands-on advice to governments facing energy challenges.

Focus on increasing the availability of energy services for poverty alleviation and social development. Integration of work on market development with energy access to ensure an increase in energy services and energy sustainability.

Extending ESMAP’s engagement to include the nexus between energy security, energy access, and climate change. Assists developing countries in reducing energy sectors’ susceptibility to climate variability while transitioning to a low-carbon development path in support of poverty reduction and economic growth.

ESMAP cements its role as a leading World Bank energy think tank and innovator. Integrates issues such as gender mainstreaming, new approaches to the energy transition, and new technologies and business models for energy access into its work.

Focus on distributed renewable energy to reach remote areas, particularly in Africa where the vast majority of those without power live. Boosting ESMAP’s role as a mobilizer of financing for energy infrastructure and emerging technologies (e.g., clean hydrogen), that the private sector often considers risky investments. Advice on employing new energy system tools, such as AI-powered energy management.

Who We Work With

ESMAP works with governments as the primary partners in strengthening energy sector foundations, in close coordination with World Bank Group country teams to ensure that analytical and advisory support informs policy dialogue and investment decisions. 

How To Work With Us

Countries and government officials engage with ESMAP primarily through World Bank Group–lending projects and analytical and advisory services that support sector planning, policy and regulatory reform, and investment readiness. ESMAP’s grants typically support early-stage planning and feasibility studies, and ESMAP experts advise World Bank Group colleagues and government officials. 

Civil society, practitioners, research institutions, and the public are welcome to contribute to and use ESMAP’s knowledge products and learning platforms, including reports, webinars, data tools, guidance notes, and peer‑to‑peer exchanges. 

Private financial institutions, multilateral development banks, and donors are invited to co-finance ESMAP projects that advance energy access and the transition to lower-carbon fuels. These institutions are also able to take advantage of ESMAP’s risk mitigation instruments that lower financial and business risks in challenging environments.

Private sector companies are critical partners in our endeavor to translate policy ideas and business opportunities into long-term solutions on the ground that serve the poor while yielding sustainable financial returns. 

To inquire about working with us, contact:

esmap@worldbank.org

Leadership & Governance

ESMAP is managed and staffed by the World Bank Group but funded separately by more than 20 donor governments and philanthropic partners. On the operational side, ESMAP is led by Chandrasekar Govindarajalu, Practice Manager overseeing Energy Transition and Climate Finance, and Fanny Missfeldt‑Ringius, Practice Manager for Access and Data.

ESMAP is overseen by a Consultative Group comprising representatives from contributing donors and chaired by the World Bank's Global Director for Energy. The Consultative Group meets annually to review ESMAP's strategic direction, impact, use of resources, and funding requirements. 

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Our Results

ESMAP’s work translates analysis into measurable results on the ground.

From Our Donors

The level of knowledge that ESMAP provides is second to none in the energy sphere globally. It comes with a lot of credibility and a lot of technical insights.

Anders Ørnemark
Chief Advisor to the Department for Green Diplomacy and Climate Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark