Should countries prioritize electricity access for families or firms in Africa?

Should countries prioritize electricity access for families or firms in Africa?

From Afronomics by World Bank Group

July 15, 2025 · 49 min · Season 1 · Episode 23

About this episode

Andrew Dabalen and Moussa P. Blimpo debate the prioritization of electricity access for families versus firms in Africa.

In this episode, Andrew Dabalen, the World Bank’s Chief Economist for Africa, engages in a riveting debate on the current strategy for electrification in Africa with Moussa P. Blimpo, Assistant Professor of Economic Inequality and Societies at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy and co-author of the report “ Electricity Access in Sub-Saharan Africa: Uptake, Reliability, and Complementary Factors for Economic Impact ”   in the Africa Development Forum series, a joint book series by the World Bank and Agence française de développement (AFD).    So, which should come first: household electrification, including for hard-to-reach rural families, or electricity for businesses that create jobs? The answer may have far-reaching implications.     

People in this episode

Host: Andrew Dabalen

Guest: Moussa P. Blimpo

Topics covered

  • electricity access
  • Africa
  • economic impact
  • household electrification
  • business electrification

Keywords

  • electrification strategy
  • economic inequality
  • rural families
  • job creation

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Electricity Access in Sub-Saharan Africa: Uptake, Reliability, and Complementary Factors for Economic Impact

Books & works: “ Electricity Access in Sub-Saharan Africa: Uptake, Reliability, and Complementary Factors for Economic Impact ”

Places: Africa

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