RETRADE-SA MPA Phase 2: Technical Assistance to the Southern African Power Pool (WB-P512662)

Regions
  • Africa
Geographic location where the impacts of the investment may be experienced.
Countries
  • Angola
  • Botswana
  • Congo, Democratic Republic of
  • Eswastini
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe
Geographic location where the impacts of the investment may be experienced.
Financial Institutions
  • World Bank (WB)
International, regional and national development finance institutions. Many of these banks have a public interest mission, such as poverty reduction.
Project Status
Approved
Stage of the project cycle. Stages vary by development bank and can include: pending, approval, implementation, and closed or completed.
Bank Risk Rating
A
Environmental and social categorization assessed by the development bank as a measure of the planned project’s environmental and social impacts. A higher risk rating may require more due diligence to limit or avoid harm to people and the environment. For example, "A" or "B" are risk categories where "A" represents the highest amount of risk. Results will include projects that specifically recorded a rating, all other projects are marked ‘U’ for "Undisclosed."
Voting Date
Nov 4, 2025
Date when project documentation and funding is reviewed by the Board for consideration and approval. Some development banks will state a "board date" or "decision date." When funding approval is obtained, the legal documents are accepted and signed, the implementation phase begins.
Borrower
Southern African Power Pool
A public entity (government or state-owned) provided with funds or financial support to manage and/or implement a project.
Sectors
  • Energy
  • Infrastructure
  • Law and Government
  • Technical Cooperation
The service or industry focus of the investment. A project can have several sectors.
Investment Type(s)
Grant
The categories of the bank investment: loan, grant, guarantee, technical assistance, advisory services, equity and fund.
Investment Amount (USD)
$ 12.00 million
Value listed on project documents at time of disclosure. If necessary, this amount is converted to USD ($) on the date of disclosure. Please review updated project documents for more information.
Grant Amount (USD)
$ 12.00 million
Value listed on project documents at time of disclosure. If necessary, this amount is converted to USD ($) on the date of disclosure. Please review updated project documents for more information.
Project Cost (USD)
$ 38.00 million
Value listed on project documents at time of disclosure. If necessary, this amount is converted to USD ($) on the date of disclosure. Please review updated project documents for more information.
Bank Documents
Other Related Projects
Primary Source

Original disclosure @ WB website

Updated in EWS Oct 7, 2026

Disclosed by Bank Aug 2, 2025

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Project Description
If provided by the financial institution, the Early Warning System Team writes a short summary describing the purported development objective of the project and project components. Review the complete project documentation for a detailed description.

Access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy is a critical enabler of sustainable and inclusive development. However, persistent global geopolitical shocks and inflationary pressures have continued to impede progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7). These challenges are particularly pronounced in Africa, where many countries face difficulties in ensuring reliable electricity services and expanding access to modern energy.

RETRADE SAPP (P512662)--the second phase of the Regional Energy Transmission, Trade and Decarbonization Project in Southern Africa (RETRADE-SA) Multi-phase Programmatic Approach (MPA) program--aims to address these challenges by providing long-term technical assistance to the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). It builds on the achievements of the SAPP-AREP program (P126661), through which the World Bank supported SAPP and its member utilities in preparing regional energy infrastructure and improving the enabling environment for cross-border electricity trade. Implemented by the SAPP Coordination Centre (SAPP CC) through its Project Advisory Unit (PAU), the Project will support SAPP in strengthening institutional and member country capacities to prepare regional energy projects and enhance regional electricity trade. It will also collaborate closely with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, the Regional Electricity Regulators Association of Southern Africa (RERA), and the SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE).

The total estimated cost of the Project is US$38 million. The Project is structured around three components:

1) Support to the SAPP Coordination Centre and Regional Energy Institutions;
2) Regional Project Preparation and Implementation; and
3) Strengthening the Enabling Environment for Regional Energy Integration.

Component 1 directly supports regional institutions, including the PAU, by equipping them with technical expertise, laying the foundation for the implementation of Components 2 and 3. Component 2 contributes to Program Area 1 of the RETRADE-SA MPA program (Strengthening Regional Infrastructure Connectivity) by supporting upstream preparation and mobilization of financing for regional energy projects, while Component 3 aligns with Program Area 2 of the MPA program (Support to Regional Soft Infrastructure Interventions).

Investment Description
Here you can find a list of individual development financial institutions that finance the project.

Contact Information
This section aims to support the local communities and local CSO to get to know which stakeholders are involved in a project with their roles and responsibilities. If available, there may be a complaint office for the respective bank which operates independently to receive and determine violations in policy and practice. Independent Accountability Mechanisms receive and respond to complaints. Most Independent Accountability Mechanisms offer two functions for addressing complaints: dispute resolution and compliance review.

World Bank Team Leader:

Nadia Taobane - Lead Energy Specialist
Email: ntaobane@worldbank.org 

Mirlan Aldayarov - Lead Energy Specialist
Email: maldayarov@worldbank.org 

Patrick Thaddayos Balla - Senior Energy Specialist
Email: pballa@worldbank.org 

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

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ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF THE WORLD BANK

The World Bank Inspection Panel is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who believe they are likely to be, or have been, adversely affected by a World Bank-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the Inspection Panel, they may investigate to assess whether the World Bank is following its own policies and procedures for preventing harm to people or the environment. You can contact the Inspection Panel or submit a complaint by emailing ipanel@worldbank.org. Information on how to file a complaint and a complaint request form are available at: https://www.inspectionpanel.org/how-to-file-complaint

How it works

How it works