Mission 300 Connects 50 Million Africans to Electricity, Advances 300 Million Access Goal

Over 50 million people across Africa have received access to electricity through Mission 300, an initiative designed to connect 300 million people by 2030.

The World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group revealed the milestone on Tuesday, saying the programme has now delivered electricity access across 40 countries at a much faster rate than when it began in 2024.

Mission 300 focuses on the entire power chain, from electricity generation and transmission to distribution and last-mile connections.

According to the two institutions, that approach has helped expand both grid and off-grid electricity access, bringing power to homes, businesses and public institutions more quickly.

Tanzania recorded one of the largest growth under the programme. About 7.5 million people have been connected to electricity, five times the country’s average annual electrification rate before Mission 300.

In Ethiopia, 4.6 million people have received access to power after reforms helped reduce the cost of connecting to the national grid.

The programme also aims to bring governments, development partners and private investors together under a common plan for expanding energy access.

Organisers said stronger political commitment, policy reforms and increased financing have helped speed up progress in participating countries.

So far, the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group have committed nearly $15 billion to Mission 300 projects. The initiative has also attracted around $4.5 billion in co-financing, while other development partners have pledged more than $7 billion to support Africa’s energy sector.

Mission 300 has also sought to encourage greater private sector participation in electricity projects. In combining policy reforms with grants, guarantees and concessional loans, the programme aims to reduce investment risks and make it easier for companies to serve communities that were previously considered difficult or expensive to reach.

In Nigeria, more than 4.5 million people have been connected through projects led by private sector operators, highlighting the role of public support and partner funding in expanding electricity access.

Another part of the initiative is the development of National Energy Compacts, which are country-led plans designed to strengthen power systems, increase affordable electricity generation, expand renewable energy use and encourage private investment.

Thirty countries have already launched the compacts. Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Djibouti, Gabon, Rwanda and Uganda are expected to unveil theirs during this week’s Africa Energy Forum.

Speaking on the milestone, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga said:

“Fifty million people connected is a milestone, but the bigger story is the pace and the partnership behind it. Mission 300 is helping countries move faster, connect more people, and build a platform that will last well beyond this effort, one others can use, build on, and scale for years to come. 

“At the end of the day, electricity is not just about power. It is about what it enables: jobs, business, health care, education, and opportunity.”

President of the African Development Bank Group Sidi Ould Tah said the achievement should encourage faster action across the continent.

“The 50 million milestone is indeed commendable. This must become the launchpad for faster electrification to enhance food security on account of affordable irrigation; increase capacity to store medicines for better health outcomes, and spur more inclusive economic and social empowerment.

“Governments, partners, private sector, and others who comprise what has evolved into an M300 movement must double down to achieve access for 300 million people by 2030. We need all hands on deck, literally!”

Development partners backing the initiative also welcomed the progress.

Rajiv J. Shah, president of The Rockefeller Foundation, said:

“Connecting over 50 million to electricity is a major milestone for Mission 300. It proves that African-led big bets, empowered by bold investment and partnership, can deliver results quickly and at scale. The Rockefeller Foundation, along with the Global Energy Alliance, has committed more than $100 million to Mission 300 because we know that every new connection means a family with new access to the jobs, education, and the dignity they deserve.”

Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, said the programme was producing tangible results across the continent.

“The 50 million milestone shows that Mission 300 is moving beyond ambition and delivering real results for people across Africa. These achievements reflect the strong political commitment and implementation capacity of African governments.

“Together with our partners, Sustainable Energy for All will continue to support governments in implementing their National Energy Compacts and accelerating progress towards universal energy access by 2030.”

Woochong Um, CEO of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, said collaboration between governments, development institutions and private investors would remain important as the programme expands.

Launched in 2024, Mission 300 is a joint initiative of the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group. The programme is supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, Sustainable Energy for All, governments, development institutions and private sector partners.

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