World Bank Approves US$60m Funding to Boost Rural Electrification and Economic Growth in Sierra Leon

The Ministry of Energy has confirmed that the World Bank has approved US$60 million for Sierra Leone under the first phase of the Regional Programme for Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Solutions (DARES), a major initiative aimed at expanding electricity access and driving rural economic transformation.

The funding forms part of a broader US$200 million regional package shared with Benin, the Central African Republic, and Liberia, and represents the opening phase of a wider US$853 million programme designed to scale up distributed renewable energy across the region.

According to the Ministry, the DARES initiative goes beyond electrification, positioning itself as a strategic investment in productivity and economic inclusion, particularly in rural communities where access to electricity remains limited.