LAGOS – A joint World Bank and African Development Bank initiative has connected over 50 million Africans to electricity, reaching nearly 20% of its target just two years after its formation.
The milestone, announced Tuesday under the “Mission 300” program, marks a significant acceleration. Power is now being delivered at nearly double the pace recorded at the initiative’s 2024 launch.
The program aims to provide electricity to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. Currently, nearly 600 million Africans, roughly 83% of the global energy deficit—still live without electricity.
Tanzania led the progress by connecting 7.5 million people, representing a five-fold increase in its annual electrification pace. Ethiopia and Nigeria followed closely, connecting 4.6 million and 4.5 million people, respectively.
Expansion is driven by National Energy Compacts across 30 countries. These frameworks combine government policy reforms with layered public financing to de-risk investments and attract private energy providers to remote communities.
“Governments, partners, private sector, and others who comprise what has evolvedinto an M300 movement must double down to achieve access for 300 million people by 2030. We need all hands on deck” said Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank Group.
To maintain momentum, the initiative recently launched a Private Sector Council. The council mobilizes commercial capital to scale up mini-grids and standalone solar setups, which will supply half of all intended connections.
