Lloyds Financials driving Zambia’s Off-Grid energy push for rural connectivity

March 19, 2026 – Lusaka

Professor Lloyd Chingambo of Lloyds Financials says the firm is playing a critical “on-the-ground” role in supporting Zambia’s Off-Grid Taskforce, helping to expand electricity access to rural communities.

Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the 2026 Off-grid Taskforce work plan main meeting in Lusaka, Prof. Chingambo explained that Lloyds Financials works closely with the Ministry of Energy by supporting the Secretariat responsible for coordinating the taskforce’s activities.

“We are essentially the feet on the ground,” he said. “Our role is to ensure that the annual work plans are implemented and that the Secretariat functions effectively in driving the programme forward.”

The Off-Grid Taskforce, supported under the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA), aims to accelerate access to electricity in underserved rural areas, a move expected to improve livelihoods through enhanced connectivity and economic opportunities.

Prof. Chingambo noted that the initiative has evolved significantly since its early stages in 2018, with stakeholders learning and adapting over time.

“We started as a learning programme, but now we are aligning our work directly with the national energy policy and focusing on achieving universal energy access,” he said.

He added that one of the key milestones has been increased coordination within government, with all departments under the Ministry of Energy now actively participating in the taskforce.

The ministry has also committed funding towards the initiative, signalling growing national ownership.

The expansion of off-grid energy solutions is expected to unlock opportunities for rural communities, including improved access to communication, education, and small business development.

Prof. Chingambo emphasized that local involvement has been key to progress.

“Being Zambians, we go beyond contractual obligations. We have put our hearts and hands into ensuring this programme delivers real impact,” he said.

As Zambia pushes towards universal electrification, the collaboration between government, local firms, and international partners is increasingly seen as vital in bridging the energy gap in rural areas.

Zambia’s rural electrification drive, spearheaded by the Rural Electrification Authority (REA), is steadily gaining ground but still highlights a significant access gap.

Current estimates indicate that rural electricity access stands at roughly 33–34 percent, a marked improvement from single-digit levels a decade ago, reflecting sustained investment and policy focus.

On the implementation side, the Authority has electrified about 45 percent of targeted Rural Growth Centres, signalling strong rollout momentum under national electrification plans.

However, the disparity between infrastructure expansion and actual household connectivity underscores persistent challenges around affordability, last-mile connections, and uptake, particularly in remote communities.

The BGFA initiative started in Zambia in 2018 as a pilot in and has since been scaled to other Sub-Saharan African markets.

Apart from Zambia, the programme is supporting rural electrification initiatives in Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Liberia, Mozambique and Uganda.

Out of the 1.9million targeted rural connections in these six countries, Zambia will get 1 million.

The beneficiary countries were selected to expand access to solar home systems, mini-grids, and other off-grid energy solutions for underserved rural communities.

The BGFA programme operates through two main tracks: direct contracting of companies to deliver electricity connections, and institutional support through platforms such as the Off-Grid Taskforce.

The latter aims to strengthen coordination and policy support within the energy sector.