The World Bank Group, the African Development Bank, and The Rockefeller Foundation have launched the Mission 300 Private Sector Council to mobilize private investment for connecting 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, while supporting job creation across the continent. The council brings together 14 leaders from diverse sectors to drive strategies that attract capital, scale catalytic finance platforms, and accelerate commercial investment in energy access and employment. Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Ray Chambers, Chair of the MCJ Foundation, will serve as Co-Chairs of the council.
The council is designed to leverage private sector expertise and networks to translate Mission 300’s ambitions into practical impact. By engaging senior leaders with experience in Africa’s energy sector, the council aims to bridge the gap between policy reform, finance, and bankable projects, ensuring faster delivery of electricity access and economic opportunities across the continent. Mission 300 itself is a collaborative initiative by the World Bank, African Development Bank, The Rockefeller Foundation, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, and Sustainable Energy for All.
Nearly 600 million people in Africa currently lack access to electricity, making private sector engagement critical for closing the gap. IFC and MIGA, members of the World Bank Group, have pledged $5 billion to support private sector investment under Mission 300 by 2030. Since its launch in 2024, the initiative has already connected 44 million people to electricity, with 30 countries signing energy compacts to expand infrastructure, integrate regional power, embrace renewables, and attract private investment.
The Rockefeller Foundation’s public charity, RF Catalytic Capital, will host the council’s secretariat, which will meet quarterly. Half of the Mission 300 electricity connections are expected to come from off-grid solutions, emphasizing the importance of private investment in off-grid energy expansion. Andrew Herscowitz, CEO of the Mission 300 Accelerator, highlighted that collaboration between the council, IFC, and African Development Bank will accelerate commercial investment and deliver transformative energy access for communities.
The Private Sector Council includes representatives from companies and organizations such as Airtel Africa PLC, Delta40, DLO Energy Resources Group, Elsewedy Electric, EQT Corporation, GOGLA, Meridiam, Sahara Power Group, Scatec, Husk Power Systems, Total Energies, the MCJ Amelior Foundation, Standard Bank, and Zhero. Together, these members aim to strengthen energy infrastructure, improve market readiness, and generate employment opportunities, reinforcing Mission 300’s vision of connecting millions of Africans to reliable electricity by 2030.
