Mission 300 has reached a major milestone by connecting more than 50 million people to electricity across 40 African countries, marking significant progress toward its ambitious goal of providing electricity access to 300 million people by 2030. The achievement was announced jointly by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group during the Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town.
Since its launch in 2024, Mission 300 has accelerated electrification efforts across the continent, delivering electricity access at nearly double the pace recorded at the start of the initiative. By investing across the entire energy value chain, including power generation, transmission infrastructure, and last-mile distribution networks, the program has expanded both on-grid and off-grid electricity access for households, businesses, and public institutions.
Several countries have recorded notable gains under the initiative. Tanzania has connected 7.5 million people to electricity, significantly increasing its annual electrification rate, while Ethiopia has connected 4.6 million people through reforms that improved the affordability of grid connections. Nigeria has also made substantial progress, with more than 4.5 million people gaining access to electricity through private sector-led projects supported by the initiative.
Mission 300’s collaborative model brings together governments, development institutions, private investors, and international partners under a shared strategy. This coordinated approach has helped strengthen policy reforms, attract financing, and accelerate project implementation across participating countries.
To date, the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group have committed nearly $15 billion in financing, while approximately $4.5 billion in co-financing has been mobilized for Mission 300 projects. Additional development partners have pledged more than $7 billion to support Africa’s energy sector and expand access to reliable and affordable electricity.
The initiative is also encouraging greater private sector participation by reducing investment risks through grants, guarantees, concessional loans, and policy reforms. This approach is helping create commercially viable energy markets in underserved communities while supporting long-term economic development.
With 30 countries already launching National Energy Compacts and several more expected to join, Mission 300 continues to build momentum across the continent. Leaders involved in the initiative emphasize that expanding electricity access is critical not only for powering homes and businesses but also for improving healthcare, education, job creation, and economic growth.
As Africa works toward universal energy access, Mission 300 is emerging as one of the continent’s most significant electrification initiatives, demonstrating how coordinated investment and partnership can deliver large-scale development results.
