THE ROADMAP

usinesses that access electricity through on-grid
connections, micro-grid connections, and off-grid
solutions. Inferred connections are calculated by
estimating the average number of households
that can be served by an additional MW of
generation capacity. 5
While Power Africa tracks inferred access to ensure
that there is sufficient new generation capacity to
support new direct connections, we only count
direct connections from projects that we support
to demonstrate progress toward our goal of
doubling access.
SUPPORTING POLICY
CHANGES & THE ENABLING
ENVIRONMENT
Our impact goes beyond MW and connections.
We also track the impact we have on improving the
legal, policy, and regulatory environment to support
cleaner, sustainable energy systems and private sector
investment. Indicators correspond to our enabling
environment principles; for example, we track
improvements in a country’s energy mix and utility
losses. We also track electricity trade and transmission
infrastructure expansion as key enablers for increasing
generation and improving access. Our Country Teams
and Transaction Advisors play an integral role in
identifying critical issues, as well as progress toward
specific enabling environment goals and objectives.
As part of our transaction approach, we ensure that
best practices regarding environmental and social
safeguards are being followed, and aim to incorporate
measures that will reduce gender inequalities and
promote female engagement across the entire power
sector. In doing so, we ensure that policy change
extends across a wide-range of dimensions —
environmental, social, and power sector governance.
POWER AFRICA INCORPORATES
GENDER EQUITY INTO ALL
ASPECTS OF THE POWER SECTOR
Power Africa aims to reduce gender
inequalities and promote the effective
engagement of both men and women
in sub-Saharan Africa’s power sector. To
realize this vision, we support activities to
advance the following goals:
• Increase women’s participation in
energy sector policy development
and project planning processes
• Increase women’s
participation in the energy sector
workforce
• Increase consideration of gender
issues in the design of energy
sector policies and projects
• Increase women’s access to
energy services
Power Africa will mobilize the collective
expertise and resources of its public
and private sector partners to increase
women’s participation in the power sector.
By creating opportunities for women’s
engagement and empowerment across
all activities in the power sector value
chain, Power Africa aims to create a more
responsive and sustainable sector.
5 The estimate is based on World Bank methodology and takes into account
existing residential and per capita consumption, household size,
capacity factors for various forms of generation, and other relevant
metrics on a country-specific basis
INTRODUCTION — 21