First PAYGO Platform in Afghanistan

Lighting Afghanistan, an energy initiative of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), introduced the first Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) platform for solar home systems in Afghanistan. Read More

Our Impact

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WHO WE ARE

Lighting Global is the World Bank Group’s platform to support sustainable growth of the international off-grid solar market as a means of rapidly increasing energy access to the 1 billion people without grid electricity.

WHAT WE DO

The Lighting Global program supports market development by working with private companies to lower first-mover risk and mobilize private sector investment through market intelligence, quality assurance, business support services and consumer education.

32.3 Million: Number of people currently meeting their basic electricity needs thanks to our activities
Data as of June 2018. 'Basic electricity needs’ are defined according to the Multi-Tier Framework (MTF) as providing light for at least 1,000 lumen-hours (lmhr) / day and sufficient energy to keep a well-used mobile phone operational.
Cumulative Sales of Products Meeting Lighting Global Quality Standards (in millions) - nearly 35 million as of 2018
Data based on semi-annual IFC client company self-reported sales data.

Regional Programs

Boys using a solar lantern in their school classroom.

Lighting Global program and its regional affiliate programs – Lighting Africa, Lighting Asia and Lighting Pacific – all work to build sustainable markets capable of bringing high quality, affordable, modern off-grid lighting and energy products to off-grid consumers.