Many of us are staunch advocates of the positive role ICTs can play in human development. But with this statement comes a whole load of assumptions. For example, access to an affordable communications infrastructure does not happen without electricity.

On this score, Africa fails abysmally. A recent article in The Economist states that “power shortages have become one of the biggest brakes on development [in Africa]”. The continent is home to over a sixth of the world’s population, but generates only four per cent of its electricity.

In response to this energy deficit, the World Bank recently set up the Lighting Africa initiative. This aims to provide “up to 250 million people in sub-Saharan Africa with access to non-fossil fuel based, low cost, safe, and reliable lighting products with associated basic energy services by the year 2030”. We must wait and see whether it succeeds.

But it’s not just lighting that relies on electricity. Open politics, freedom of expression, equitable health and education – none of these can be achieved without the development of adequate infrastructure, including electricity.