The World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB) have launched an ambitious initiative to provide electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030. The transformative Mission 300 agenda, unveiled at the Africa Energy Summit in Tanzania, aims to tackle the energy poverty affecting nearly half the continent’s population.
“Mission 300 represents not just an ambitious target but a movement,” said Franz Drees-Gross, the World Bank’s Director of Infrastructure for West Africa. “This is about powering Africa’s growth and enabling millions to access essential services electricity provides.”
The two-day summit, held on January 27–28, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, is expected to attract 13 African Heads of State, international development partners, and over 1,000 participants. It will culminate in the signing of the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, through which African governments will commit to accelerating energy access reforms, promoting renewable energy, and boosting private sector investments.
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Nearly 600 million Africans—83% of the global population without electricity—currently live without access to power. Mission 300, launched in April 2024, seeks to address this challenge by combining traditional grid expansion with off-grid solutions tailored to remote areas.
The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) and The Rockefeller Foundation have already committed $10 million to establish a technical assistance facility for energy projects in 11 African countries. Financial institutions such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC) are also expected to announce new funding mechanisms to support renewable energy development across the continent.
“This initiative stands out for its ‘all-hands-on-deck’ approach,” said Sarvesh Suri, IFC Director for Infrastructure in Africa.
Reforms will focus on scaling affordable electricity production, improving cross-border energy trade, expanding electricity to underserved communities, creating a business-friendly environment for private capital, and modernizing national utilities to enhance their resilience and efficiency.
Daniel Schroth, AfDB’s Director for Renewable Energy, emphasized the urgency of achieving these targets. “It’s a tight journey because 2030 is only five years away. We have to deliver actual connections to 300 million people.”
The summit will showcase innovative solutions and highlight successful energy projects, fostering collaboration among stakeholders to accelerate investments and strengthen regional energy frameworks. Discussions will focus on scaling clean and affordable energy, addressing financing challenges, and improving grid reliability and off-grid solutions.
The Africa Energy Summit is being heralded as a pivotal moment in the continent’s journey toward universal energy access. It aims to unite key players, including philanthropists, private sector leaders, and financial institutions, to work together on transforming Africa’s energy future. “This is a moment for Africa to lead,” Schroth added, stressing the transformative potential of Mission 300.
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