Lesotho - Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation Program Using the Multiphase Programmatic Approach : Sixteenth Phase

Overview & Synopsis

Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation in Lesotho for Lesotho has the development objective to increase energy access in Lesotho. Components: Component 1: Increasing Access to On-Grid Electrification, which finances least-cost grid extension and densification to peri-urban, rural, and highland villages identified by the National Electrification Strategy, installation of medium- and low-voltage lines, transformers, service drops, and prepaid meters, last-mile connection support including ready boards for households without internal wiring, reinforcement of distribution assets to improve reliability and climate resilience, and engagement of an owner’s engineer to review designs, support procurement, and supervise works; Sub-components include grid expansion works, last-mile connection facilitation, network reinforcement, and owner’s engineer services. Component 2: Off-Grid Energy Access Pilot, which provides performance-based grants and catalytic grants to qualified off-grid solar providers to deliver verified, quality-assured solar solutions for households, small and medium-sized enterprises, public facilities, and climate-affected herders and farmers in areas beyond economic grid reach, incorporates gender-responsive affordability measures for lower-income female-headed households, and establishes operating guidelines, an independent verification agent, and a digital monitoring, reporting, and verification (dMRV) platform integrated with regional architecture to enable results tracking and potential access to carbon finance; Sub-components include performance-based grants, catalytic market development grants, program design and operating guidelines, dMRV deployment, and independent verification. Component 3: Technical Assistance and Project Management, which supports sector governance and planning including annual updates of the National Electrification Strategy, development of a National Clean Cooking and Space Heating Strategy and Action Plan with integrated gender analysis, utility performance strengthening through implementation of a Performance Improvement Plan and preparation of a Transmission and Distribution Master Plan, capacity building for project institutions, consumer education and communication, gender and citizen engagement activities, and systems for safe end-of-life handling and disposal of solar products, alongside strengthening of the project implementation unit; Sub-components include sector planning and policy support, clean cooking and space heating strategy, utility performance and network planning, institutional capacity building and communications, gender and citizen engagement, e-waste management, and project implementation support. Component 4: Contingent Emergency Response, a zero-allocation mechanism to enable rapid financing of eligible response, recovery, and reconstruction activities in the event of an eligible crisis or emergency.