Freetown, 26th June 2026- Sierra Leone has secured a major energy investment as the World Bank Board approved US$60 million under the first phase of the Regional Programme for Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Solutions (Regional DARES).
The financing forms part of a US$200 million package shared with Benin, the Central African Republic, and Liberia, within a broader US$853 million regional initiative aimed at accelerating renewable energy access across West and Central Africa.
For Sierra Leone, the investment directly supports the government’s National Energy Compact under Mission 300, expanding electricity through solar home systems, mini-grids, and other off-grid renewable solutions. With only 36 percent of Sierra Leoneans currently connected, the programme is expected to mobilize an additional US$54 million in private capital, bringing reliable electricity to more than 1.2 million people and 24,000 businesses.
The impact will extend beyond households: schools, health facilities, farmers, and small enterprises stand to benefit from improved energy access. Officials say the initiative will stimulate productivity, create jobs for youth and women in the renewable energy value chain, and strengthen Sierra Leone’s transition to cleaner, climate-resilient power.
Energy Minister Hon. Cyril Grant hailed the approval as “another important step towards achieving universal access to electricity,” noting that distributed renewable energy offers the fastest route to reach rural communities. “This investment will help bring reliable electricity to households, schools, health facilities and businesses, while creating opportunities for economic growth,” he said.
Regional DARES builds on ongoing reforms and recent investments in Sierra Leone’s energy sector, including the Respite Project, and reflects growing confidence in the country’s efforts to attract private sector participation in power generation.
