For 600 million people in Africa, access to electricity remains a distant reality. This lack of access hinders opportunities for modern healthcare, quality education, improved quality of life, job creation, and economic growth.
In response to this challenge, the World Bank Group (WBG) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have launched Mission 300. The initiative aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030. Partners such as The Rockefeller Foundation, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) are collaborating on this effort. Their focus is on mobilizing financing from both public and private sectors, building government capacity, engaging stakeholders, and streamlining processes.
Mission 300 is distinguished by its scale and impact-driven approach within a broad partnership framework. It addresses both on-grid and off-grid solutions to reach remote and vulnerable communities in Africa. The strategy includes expanding national electricity grids while deploying mini-grids and standalone solar systems where grid expansion is not feasible.
African governments are leading Mission 300 by prioritizing reforms in five key areas: expanding cost-effective power generation through competitive procurement; boosting regional power integration via cross-border trade; scaling up last-mile electrification with renewable energy solutions; unlocking private investment through supportive regulatory frameworks; and strengthening utilities with transparent financial management.
The Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit will take place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on January 27-28, 2025. Hosted by the Government of Tanzania, the African Union, AfDB Group, and WBG, the summit will gather governments, private sector leaders, development partners, and civil society to advance Mission 300's goals.
During the summit, African Heads of State are expected to endorse the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration—a commitment to energy reforms across Africa. Countries will present National Energy Compacts outlining their specific targets and reform commitments. The summit aims to lay a foundation for an energy transformation that supports economic growth across Africa.
Achieving Mission 300’s targets requires substantial financial resources and effective partnerships between public entities and private companies. WBG and AfDB are already investing significantly with projects underway connecting over 100 million people. However, further contributions from the private sector are necessary alongside innovative financing mechanisms.
The private sector is already making strides in delivering off-grid energy solutions that transform lives. Further collaboration will be crucial in scaling these efforts.
Development partners play a vital role in mobilizing additional financing by aligning resources with technical expertise. Mission 300 builds a coalition capable of driving sustainable change at scale.
Mission 300 represents more than an initiative; it is a movement calling all stakeholders together to power Africa’s future. The upcoming summit provides a platform for consolidating commitments toward achieving the goal by 2030 with strong leadership from involved parties.