Seventeen African countries have endorsed major reforms to expand electricity access under Mission 300, a joint initiative by the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) aimed at connecting 300 million Africans to power by 2030.
Governments from Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, and Togo signed National Energy Compacts at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum.
The compacts outline strategies to guide public spending, drive reforms, and attract private investment. Since Mission 300’s launch, 30 million people have gained electricity access, with another 100 million in progress.
World Bank President Ajay Banga said electricity is the foundation for jobs and growth, stressing that the initiative is about “enduring reforms that cut costs and attract private capital.” AfDB President Dr. Sidi Ould Tah added that affordable power is the fastest driver of SMEs, agro-processing, and digital jobs.
Although not in this latest group, Nigeria joined earlier in 2025 with 11 other countries, pledging over 400 policy actions to strengthen utilities and reduce investor risks.
Mission 300 is supported by partners including the Rockefeller Foundation, GEAPP, and Sustainable Energy for All, ensuring Africa moves closer to ending energy poverty.
