AfDB Approves €103m to Expand Electricity Access in Côte d'Ivoire

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved €103.14 million in financing to support a major electricity expansion project in Côte d'Ivoire aimed at connecting more than 100,000 households to the national grid and improving power supply across the country.

The funding, approved by the Bank's Board of Directors on May 15, 2026, will support the second phase of the Project to Strengthen Electrical System Infrastructure and Electricity Access (PROSER II).

The project has a total cost of €234.56 million and is being co-financed by the Islamic Development Bank with €83.96 million, while the Government of Côte d'Ivoire will contribute €47.46 million.

Under the programme, 244 rural communities across 18 regions of the country will be electrified, helping to extend electricity access to underserved populations.

The project will also expand, reinforce and rehabilitate electricity distribution networks in Greater Abidjan, several regions in the country's interior and 12 departmental capitals.

More than 107,000 households are expected to be connected to the national grid, while 74,010 energy-efficient LED streetlights will be installed to improve public safety, boost energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Director General of the African Development Bank Group for West Africa, Lamin Barrow, described the approval of PROSER II as a major step toward strengthening Côte d'Ivoire's electricity system.

According to him, the project will provide more reliable and higher-quality electricity services while supporting economic growth and improving living standards in beneficiary communities.

The initiative forms part of Côte d'Ivoire's broader goal of achieving universal electricity access by 2030, with particular attention to rural communities, underserved populations and rapidly expanding urban centres.

Excluding infrastructure development, the project includes measures to promote youth employment, support women's economic empowerment and strengthen the capacity of institutions responsible for planning, implementing and monitoring electricity sector programmes.

The project aligns with Côte d'Ivoire's National Development Plan (2026–2030), the National Energy Compact (2025–2030) and the African Development Bank's long-term strategy for sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure development.

The first phase of PROSER, approved in 2020, exceeded its original targets by electrifying 1,509 localities, constructing nearly 10,000 kilometres of medium- and low-voltage distribution lines and establishing more than 1,500 transformer substations.

With the launch of PROSER II, Côte d'Ivoire is expected to accelerate progress toward universal electricity access while strengthening the reliability and resilience of its power network.