Latest news with #Worldbank
Business Insider
2 days ago
- General
- Business Insider
Nigeria, DRC lead global ranking of countries with most people without electricity access
New data from the World Bank report titled Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2025, shows that a majority of the countries with the highest electricity deficits are in sub-Saharan Africa, further emphasizing the continent's persistent infrastructure gaps and the urgent need for investment in energy access and grid expansion. Despite efforts to improve electrification, millions remain in the dark, hindering economic growth, education, and health outcomes. Electricity deficit in Africa According to the report, nearly 92% of the world's population now has basic access to electricity, a notable improvement since 2022, when the number of people without power declined for the first time in a decade. However, more than 666 million people still lack access, underscoring that current progress is insufficient to meet the goal of universal electrification by 2030. This challenge is especially pronounced in Africa, where millions of people continue to live without electricity, highlighting persistent regional disparities in energy access. While electrification efforts have gained momentum across the continent, access remains uneven and deeply constrained in many regions, with some countries even experiencing reversals due to population growth and infrastructure challenges. 'The electricity access challenge is greatest in rural areas, where 84 percent of the world's people without electricity live." "While overall progress in rural electrification was greater than that in urban areas, the gain was largely driven by advancements in Central and Southern Asia, where the number of rural people without access was cut from 383 million in 2010 to just under 25 million in 2023." "By contrast, in SubSaharan Africa, rural population growth outstripped electrification efforts, leaving 451 million people in rural areas without electricity in 2023. ' the report added According to the World bank's Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2025, the list below shows the African countries with the most people without electricity. Rank Country People Without Electricity Access 1 Nigeria 86,860,905 2 DRC 79,633,583 3 Ethiopia 56,400,131 4 Tanzania, United Rep. of 34,862,880 5 Uganda 23,546,203 6 Niger 21,735,388 7 Mozambique 21,691,568 8 Madagascar 18,391,299 9 Burkina Faso 18,202,023 10 Angola 17,945,445 11 Malawi 17,669,934 12 Sudan 16,364,686 13 Chad 16,081,007 14 Kenya 13,138,184 15 Myanmar 12,687,720 16 Burundi 11,704,300 17 Pakistan 10,701,612 18 Mali 10,606,683 19 South Sudan 10,490,001 20 Zambia 10,060,384 Rest of world 157,648,778 The 20 countries with the largest electricity access deficits accounted for 76 percent of the global total—an increase from 75 percent the previous year. Once again, 18 of these countries were in Sub-Saharan Africa. For the third consecutive edition of the report, Nigeria (86.8 million), the Democratic Republic of Congo (79.6 million), and Ethiopia (56.4 million) topped the list, collectively representing nearly one-third of the global electricity access deficit. The lowest national access rates were recorded in South Sudan (5 percent), followed by Chad and Burundi (both at 12 percent), all of which have seen minimal annual progress since 2010. According to the World Bank, closing the electricity access gap in Sub-Saharan Africa remains particularly challenging. While 35 million people in the region gained access to electricity in 2023, population growth offset much of the progress, resulting in a net reduction of just 5 million—from 570 million people without access in 2022 to 565 million in 2023.
Business Insider
06-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
World Bank restores funding to Uganda despite controversial anti-gay law
The World Bank has restored funding to Uganda nearly two years after suspending new financing in response to the country's Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA). The World Bank has resumed funding to Uganda after a two-year suspension instigated by the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA). The Bank justified resumption through effective mitigation measures within ongoing Ugandan projects to limit potential adverse impacts. While Uganda's AHA remains unchanged, the decision signals shifting geopolitical dynamics by international financial institutions. The World bank in 2023, suspended funding to Uganda after the country's parliament passed the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA), saying the law contradicted its values. The legislation sparked international condemnation for imposing severe penalties on LGBTQ+ individuals, including life imprisonment and, in some cases, the death penalty. According to Reuters, the World Bank said it had developed a working relationship with Ugandan authorities to implement strong measures aimed at mitigating potential harm resulting from the law. " We have now determined the mitigation measures rolled out over the last several months in all ongoing projects in Uganda to be satisfactory," " Consequently, the Bank has prepared three new projects in sectors with significant development needs – social protection, education, and forced displacement/refugees, which have been approved by the Board." said a Bank spokesperson, who requested anonymity. The decision to resume funding signals a shift in the Bank's engagement strategy with Uganda and raises broader questions about how global institutions navigate the tension between promoting human rights and maintaining development partnerships. While there has been no indication of changes to Uganda's legal position on LGBTQ+ rights, the World Bank's renewed support may reflect wider geopolitical and economic considerations in the region. How the world reacted to Uganda's Anti-Gay Law Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA), signed into law in May 2023, imposed sweeping criminal penalties for same-sex relationships, including life imprisonment and, in cases of so-called 'aggravated homosexuality,' the death penalty. The law drew swift and widespread condemnation from Western governments, human rights organizations, and international institutions, and was widely regarded as one of the harshest anti-LGBTQ+ laws in the world. Beyond the World Bank's suspension of funding, several Western governments issued strong rebukes and implemented measures affecting Uganda's international standing. The United States led the diplomatic response, with the Biden administration describing the law as 'a tragic violation of universal human rights.' In turn, Washington imposed travel restrictions on Ugandan officials believed to be involved in the legislation and initiated a review of its financial assistance to the country. The European Union also condemned the law, emphasizing its incompatibility with international human rights norms and warning that it would reassess its relationship with Uganda. Similarly, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called the legislation 'shocking' and 'discriminatory,' urging its immediate repeal. Outside of official government action, Western-based human rights organizations, NGOs, and civil society groups amplified the global outcry. Advocacy campaigns were launched to pressure the Ugandan government, while some multinational corporations voiced concern about the law's potential impact on employees and business operations in the country. Despite this international backlash, Ugandan officials have welcomed the recent restoration of World Bank funding, portraying it as an endorsement of the country's sovereignty and development agenda.
