The African Development Bank (AfDB), World Bank Group and key development partners have unveiled an initiative to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.
Dubbed Mission 300 (M300), the initiative seeks to bridge the continent’s energy divide through innovative financing and advanced technology.
The project which was supported by the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) and the Rockefeller Foundation will include a $10 million commitment for technical assistance targeting Nigeria and 10 other African nations.
The initiative will also drive energy reforms and bolster electrification efforts within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
This effort comes at a time when nearly 600 million Africans—representing about 83% of the world’s energy-deprived population—remain without access to electricity.
President of the AfDB, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said, “No economy could grow, industrialise or be competitive without access to electricity.”
The inaugural Africa Heads of State Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam brought together 30 heads of state, including five from outside Africa, alongside 1,500 participants from the private sector.
The summit focused on solidifying commitments to accelerate energy infrastructure investments and enact energy sector reforms.
“This partnership is a game changer for Africa’s development. Mission 300, launched at the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings 2024, has the backing of the G7 and G20,” Dr. Adesina added.
Under the first phase of the initiative, energy compacts will be developed for 12 countries: Nigeria, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, said “We need action from governments, financing from multilateral development banks, and investment from the private sector,” he said.
The summit culminated in the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, aimed at strengthening regional power planning, market trade, and policy frameworks.
The declaration also supports the implementation of the Continental Master Plan and the African Single Electricity Market.
The AfDB’s energy portfolio, which already forecasts 43 million new electricity connections, will be a critical component of the initiative.
Mission 300 seeks to transform Africa’s energy landscape, driving economic growth and improving quality of life across the continent.
With strong backing from international stakeholders and a clear roadmap, Mission 300 positions Africa at the forefront of a global effort to eradicate energy poverty.