On 5 February 2026 the World Bank approved 150 million dollars in IBRD financing for the Republic of Gabon. The operation supports government priorities to modernise water and electricity services, move towards universal access and strengthen the financial viability of service providers, while contributing to climate adaptation and mitigation objectives.
According to the World Bank, 90% of the urban population has access to basic water services and 94% to electricity, but frequent interruptions and poor service quality reduce the benefits. In rural areas, access stands at only 55% for water and 29% for electricity. The near absence of sanitation and faecal sludge treatment infrastructure leaves surface and groundwater exposed to contamination.
The project combines investment in climate-resilient infrastructure with stronger sector policies, institutions and regulation. It is expected to benefit about 535,000 people through extended piped water and electricity connections, more reliable services and the introduction of safely managed sanitation, including low-carbon solutions in rural and peri-urban areas.
The World Bank states that the project is aligned with Gabon's National Development Plan (NDP) 2025-2032, the World Bank-Gabon Country Partnership Framework and the Mission 300 initiative to connect people in Africa to electricity by 2030.
