In a significant step towards equitable access to healthcare, the Zambian government, in collaboration with GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF and the World Health Organization, officially launched a pioneering solar electrification project on 24 August 2025. The project is set to power 250 rural health facilities. This initiative will provide sustainable energy to remote clinics that previously struggled with unreliable electricity supplies.
On 24 August 2025, the Government of Zambia, in collaboration with GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization, launched the Solar Electrification and Drive Initiative Project in Zambia. The project aims to provide 250 health facilities across the country with reliable energy. Designed to address the persistent challenge of limited access to electricity in rural areas, the programme will ensure that health centres no longer have to rely on kerosene lamps, candles or unreliable grid power.
The electrification of 250 facilities is expected to be completed by December 2025, at an initial investment cost of around 5 million USD. The target health facilities will be located mainly in rural and underserved areas across 90 districts in all 10 provinces of our country.
Elijah Muchima, Minister of Health – Zambia
According to the Ministry of Health, nearly 40% of rural clinics in Zambia lack reliable power, making the country’s new solar electrification project timely. This shortage impedes the storage of vaccines, safe deliveries at night and the use of diagnostic tools. Through the initiative, facilities will be equipped with solar panels and battery storage, and local technicians will be trained to maintain the systems, thereby boosting healthcare delivery and creating renewable energy jobs.
The aim is also to reduce stock-outs, cut out-of-reach cancellations and boost service efficiency and integrated delivery.
Nejmudin Kedir Bilal, UNICEF country representative – Ethiopia
The Solar Electrification and Drive Initiative Project in Zambia goes beyond healthcare and aligns with the country’s commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. According to the World Bank, only around 31% of Zambia’s rural population currently has access to electricity. The government hopes that this project will serve as a model for scaling up clean energy solutions in education, agriculture and other vital sectors.
