Mission 300 electrification surge connects 50 million Africans to electricity, marking a major World Bank and AfDB power milestone
The President of the World Bank Group, Ajay Banga, and the President of the African Development Bank Group, Sidi Ould Tah, have announced a major expansion in electricity access across Africa under the Mission 300 electrification surge, confirming that over 50 million people have now been connected to power across 40 countries.
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The announcement was made during a joint update on the programme’s progress, which has rapidly accelerated electrification efforts through coordinated financing, policy reforms, and public private partnerships.
The Mission 300 electrification surge is aimed at reaching 300 million people by 2030, and officials say the initiative is now delivering results at nearly double the pace recorded at its launch.
Ajay Banga described the milestone as a powerful demonstration of what coordinated global action can achieve, noting that electricity access is central to jobs creation, education, healthcare delivery, and wider economic opportunity.
He stressed that the progress reflects a stronger alignment between governments, development institutions, and private investors.
Sidi Ould Tah said the achievement should serve as a foundation for deeper progress across the continent, particularly in improving food security through irrigation, expanding healthcare capacity, and strengthening inclusive growth.
He urged stakeholders to intensify efforts to sustain momentum towards universal access.
The Mission 300 electrification surge has been driven by investments across the full energy value chain, including generation, transmission, and last mile distribution.
Officials confirmed that both on grid and off grid solutions have played a critical role in expanding access to underserved communities.
In Tanzania, 7.5 million people have gained access to electricity under the initiative, representing a fivefold increase in the country’s annual electrification pace before the programme began.
In Ethiopia, 4.6 million people have been connected following targeted reforms that reduced the cost of grid connections.
A significant portion of the progress has also come from strengthened private sector participation, supported through concessional financing, guarantees, and risk mitigation instruments designed to unlock investment in previously unviable markets.
In Nigeria, more than 4.5 million people have been connected through private sector led interventions linked to the programme.
The Mission 300 electrification surge has also encouraged policy alignment across participating countries.
So far, 30 nations have launched National Energy Compacts, which outline strategies for expanding generation capacity, scaling renewable energy, improving regional integration, and increasing private investment in the power sector.
Additional countries, including Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Djibouti, Gabon, Rwanda, and Uganda, are expected to join the framework at the Africa Energy Forum, further expanding the initiative’s footprint across the continent.
Partners including the Rockefeller Foundation, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, and Sustainable Energy for All have praised the progress, describing it as evidence that African led solutions can deliver large scale results when backed by coordinated financing and political commitment.
Launched in 2024, Mission 300 brings together governments, development agencies, and private sector actors to accelerate electrification across Africa.
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Officials say the next phase will focus on scaling implementation and deepening reforms to sustain long term access gains.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
