In sub-Saharan Africa, access to reliable energy remains one of the main drivers of productivity and the development of small businesses.
In Niger, where only 23% of the population had access to electricity in 2024, the Haské Electricity Access Acceleration Project is transforming production methods and boosting rural incomes.
Between January and October 2026, more than one million people were connected to the grid or provided with decentralised energy solutions under the first phase of the $317.5 million programme.
Beyond providing household lighting, the initiative, led by the government with support from the World Bank, is focused primarily on the productive use of energy to stimulate local employment.
In the Maradi region, electrification is improving the viability of small rural businesses. In Bamou, artisans such as blacksmith Issaka Bakoye are already seeing productivity gains.
The time needed to complete his work has been cut by a factor of five, enabling him to diversify into welding and increase his daily earnings from 2,000–3,000 CFA francs to over 5,000 CFA francs.
The availability of electricity is also creating opportunities for additional commercial activities, particularly the storage and sale of fresh produce, strengthening household financial resilience.
By combining expansion of the national grid with solar mini-grids and standalone systems, Haské is addressing the challenges posed by Niger’s widely dispersed population.
The project is part of the continent-wide Mission 300 initiative, led by the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB). By 2027, it aims to connect 2.5 million people in Niger and strengthen the economic inclusion of more than 500,000 refugees and members of host communities.
TE/Sf/lb/gik/APA