The Mission 300 initiative, a collaborative effort led by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the World Bank Group, alongside a broad range of development partners, continues to make steady progress toward its goal of connecting 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. This shared commitment reflects a collective vision for transforming Africa’s energy landscape and promoting sustainable development across the continent.
Across the continent, countries are increasingly engaging with the initiative by presenting detailed national energy compacts. These plans outline strategic reforms and investments needed to expand energy access, demonstrating a unified effort to achieve meaningful progress. Recent discussions at international forums, such as a key meeting in London, have showcased the commitment of nations like Burundi, Ghana, Mozambique, Togo, and Zimbabwe to these goals.
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This ongoing momentum builds on early achievements, including the initial group of 12 countries that unveiled their energy compacts at the Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in January 2025. That event marked a significant milestone, resulting in the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration—an agreement among African leaders to prioritise the implementation of their energy strategies and foster regional cooperation.
Progress and Vision for the Future
Over the past decade, Africa has seen notable progress in expanding energy access. According to Dr Akinwumi Adesina, the outgoing President of the African Development Bank Group, “Since the launch of the New Deal on Energy for Africa in 2015, the continent’s electricity access has increased from 39% to 53%.” He highlighted that over 28 million people have gained electricity connections through the Bank’s efforts, and the continent’s installed power capacity has grown by approximately 12,000 megawatts.
Adesina emphasised the importance of accelerating efforts: “The time for half measures is behind us. Africa cannot prosper in the dark. Achieving universal access to electricity is essential for economic growth, social progress, and regional stability.” His remarks underscore the critical role energy access plays in shaping a sustainable and prosperous future.
The initiative benefits from strong international and regional partnerships, with organisations such as the World Bank, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, the International Finance Corporation, the Islamic Development Bank, the French Development Agency, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the OPEC Fund providing vital financial support.
Mobilising the Private Sector
A key element of Mission 300’s success lies in mobilising private sector investment. Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, highlighted this at recent discussions, stating, “Without the private sector, we cannot create the jobs and opportunities needed for sustainable development. Our role is to create an environment that encourages responsible investment and enables private capital to contribute meaningfully to energy access.”
Panel sessions emphasised the importance of fostering an enabling environment through political commitment, innovative financing solutions, and capacity building. These measures will help overcome barriers and attract investments in debt, equity, local currency financing, securitisation, and guarantees—crucial steps toward scaling energy access.
Building Capacity and Strengthening Collaboration
Participants also underscored the need for enhanced coordination between governments and private investors, along with targeted capacity-building initiatives. Such efforts are vital to unlocking Africa’s full energy potential and ensuring that reforms translate into tangible progress.
In closing, Dr. Kevin Kariuki, Vice President of the African Development Bank for Power, Energy, Climate, and Green Growth, expressed optimism about the initiative’s growth. He noted that by September 2025, the second batch of 20 national energy compacts would be ready for adoption, reflecting a shared commitment to reforms and resource mobilisation.
Kariuki described Mission 300 as “Africa’s most ambitious and coordinated effort to deliver universal energy access at scale,” emphasising that its success depends on “new capital, new partners, and innovative solutions.”
Looking Toward a Brighter Future
As Africa continues its journey toward universal electricity access, the steady progress of Mission 300 signals a continent dedicated to sustainable development and transformative change. With increasing national commitments and a broad coalition of partners, Africa is building a future where energy powers growth, improves lives, and enhances resilience across the region. This ongoing effort underscores a shared belief that universal energy access is not just an aspiration but an achievable goal—one that will light the path to a more inclusive and prosperous Africa.
