Mission 300, a joint initiative of the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank Group, has connected more than 50 million people to electricity across 40 African countries, marking a major step toward its goal of bringing power to an additional 300 million people by 2030.
The milestone, announced Tuesday, highlights accelerating progress in expanding electricity access across Africa.
Launched in 2024, the initiative is supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, Sustainable Energy for All and a broad coalition of governments, development institutions and private-sector partners.
According to its partners, the initiative is now delivering new electricity connections at nearly twice the pace recorded when it was launched in 2024.
Mission 300 invests across the energy value chain, from power generation and transmission infrastructure to last-mile distribution networks.
The approach has boosted both on-grid and off-grid electrification, helping connect households, businesses and public institutions to reliable power.
Several countries report notable gains in electricity access under the initiative
Tanzania has connected approximately 7.5 million people to electricity under Mission 300, representing a fivefold increase in the average annual pace of electrification before the initiative.
In Ethiopia, about 4.6 million people have gained access, supported by reforms that reduced the cost of grid connections.
Mission 300’s backers say its coordinated approach has strengthened political commitment, encouraged policy reforms and mobilized financing needed to accelerate electrification.
To date, the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the World Bank Group have committed nearly $15 billion in financing and mobilized about $4.5 billion in co-financing for Mission 300-related projects. Additional development partners have pledged more than $7 billion to support Africa’s energy sector.
Nigeria has emerged as a leading example of private-sector participation, with more than 4.5 million people connected through private-sector-led initiatives supported by public financing and development partners.
African Development Bank Group President Sidi Ould Tah described the achievement as a platform for faster progress, saying expanded electricity access can strengthen food security, improve health outcomes and drive inclusive economic growth across the continent.
Mission 300 aims to close Africa’s electricity access gap by 2030
In January 2025, 48 countries endorsed the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, aligning Mission 300 with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and reinforcing continentwide political commitment to energy access.
Since its launch, 30 countries have introduced National Energy Compacts to guide reforms and investments in the energy sector, with additional compacts expected to be unveiled during this week’s Africa Energy Forum.
Access to reliable, affordable and sustainable energy remains central to economic transformation, job creation and improved living standards across Africa.
