The Rural Electrification Authority (REA) of Zambia has issued a request for expressions of interest for its Results-Based Financing (RBF) Facility, aimed at expanding access to clean energy solutions across rural and peri-urban communities. The initiative is being implemented under the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation in Zambia (ASCENT Zambia) programme, which seeks to improve electricity access and promote cleaner energy technologies across the country.
The ASCENT Zambia programme will run for five years, from 2025 to 2030, with support from the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the World Bank. The programme has a funding allocation of US$200 million supported by the World Bank, alongside US$249.5 million committed by the Zambian government.
The programme aims to provide electricity access to approximately 1.64 million people, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around seven million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), and mobilise at least US$19 million in private sector investment over its implementation period. These targets are intended to support Zambia’s efforts to expand energy access while reducing dependence on polluting energy sources.
The RBF Facility forms part of Result Area 1 of the programme and focuses on increasing the deployment of decentralised clean energy solutions. Its planned deliverables include connecting 38,500 households through solar mini-grids, distributing solar home systems (SHS) to 120,000 households, and providing clean cooking appliances to 60,000 households.
The financing mechanism is designed to encourage private sector participation by linking payments directly to the delivery of agreed results. Under this approach, participating companies must first deliver the specified products or services and undergo verification before receiving payments. Companies will therefore bear the commercial risk until their reported results have been verified.
The facility is intended to address affordability barriers that limit access to clean energy among households, businesses and communities. It also seeks to protect consumer interests while encouraging energy service providers to expand the availability of reliable and affordable energy technologies.
For this first call for expressions of interest, REA is inviting applications specifically from Energy Service Providers (ESPs) operating in the solar home systems and clean cooking sectors. The anticipated duration of the assignment is four years. Interested firms must demonstrate their qualifications, relevant experience and eligibility by submitting the required information through the prescribed concept note template.
The deadline for submissions is Monday, 30 November 2026, at 15:00 hours local time. Applications may be submitted physically in a sealed envelope marked “EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR ACCESSING THE RESULTS-BASED FINANCING (RBF) FACILITY” to the tender box at the Annex Building on Great North Road in Lusaka.
Applicants may also submit their expressions of interest by email to the designated REA contacts, including Lennox Chiluwa, Manager of Procurement. Further information, application guidelines and the required templates are available directly from the Rural Electrification Authority office during working hours.
Through this call, REA aims to engage eligible private sector providers to help expand solar home system deployment and clean cooking access, supporting Zambia’s broader clean energy and rural electrification objectives.
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