The World Bank Group and the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group announced earlier this week that over 50 million Africans across 40 countries have been connected to electricity through the Mission 300 initiative.
This marks a major milestone in the initiative’s goal of reaching 300 million people by 2030.
The organisations noted that the process of delivering electricity access has nearly doubled since the start of the initiative in 2024. This is attributed to investment across the full energy value chain, from the generation and transmission of electricity to last-mile distribution and consumption. It also aligns governments, partners and private sector investors around a single shared agenda.
“That coordination is what is driving faster results and stronger political commitment, deeper policy reform and the mobilisation of resources needed to accelerate electrification and deliver impact on the ground,” they noted.
According to the World Bank and African Development Bank, 7.5 million Tanzanians have gained access to electricity under Mission 300, driven by increased financing and growing policy momentum. In Ethiopia, 4.6 million people have been connected, supported by reforms that made grid connections more affordable. In Nigeria, more than 4.5 million people have been connected through private sector initiatives, demonstrating how well-designed public support and partner financing can help create commercially viable markets.
The AfDB and the World Bank Group have committed nearly US$15 billion in financing and attracted about US$4.5 billion in co-financing for Mission 300-related projects while additional development partners have pledged more than US$7 billion to support Africa’s energy sector.
Furthermore, 30 countries have already launched National Energy Compacts to strengthen energy systems, expand affordable power generation, scale renewable energy solutions, promote regional integration, and increase private sector participation.
The Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Hon Modestus Amutse launched Namibia’s National Energy Compact last year. Additional compacts are expected to be launched by Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Djibouti, Gabon, Rwanda and Uganda at the Africa Energy Forum that concludes this Friday 19 June.
