<h2>Energy Access Revolution</h2><p>The World Bank has launched a landmark $20 billion Solar Energy Access Program (SEAP) aimed at connecting 500 million people in underserved regions to solar electricity by 2030. The program will fund minigrids, solar home systems, and productive-use solar applications across Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.</p><p>The initiative combines concessional finance with private sector investment, targeting a 5:1 leverage ratio. Early pilot projects in Kenya, Nigeria, and Bangladesh have demonstrated that solar minigrids can achieve financial sustainability within 3-5 years of operation.</p>