- Seventeen countries signed National Energy Compacts to back electricity reforms and expand power access by 2030.
- The electricity reforms in Africa form the core of Mission 300, linking policy, infrastructure, and finance.
Seventeen African countries have committed to electricity reforms, joining the World Bank and African Development Bank’s Mission 300. This ambitious initiative aims to connect 300 million Africans to reliable electricity by 2030.
On Wednesday, the World Bank confirmed that governments from Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, and Togo endorsed National Energy Compacts. The endorsement took place during the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum.
Importantly, these compacts are not just declarations. Instead, they act as detailed blueprints that guide reforms, shape public spending, and attract private investment. Furthermore, they provide models that other nations could easily adapt.
Nigeria did not join this new group, since it had already committed earlier alongside Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia. Collectively, those countries pledged more than 400 policy actions to strengthen utilities, reduce investor risk, and remove bottlenecks.
World Bank President Ajay Banga stressed that electricity fuels growth, jobs, and opportunity. He also explained that Mission 300 is more than a target because it delivers reforms that reduce costs, improve utilities, and attract investment. Since the initiative began, 30 million people have already gained electricity, while another 100 million are in progress.
Similarly, African Development Bank President Dr Sidi Ould Tah emphasised that affordable energy is vital for small businesses, agro-processing, digital work, and industry. He argued that giving entrepreneurs electricity effectively provides them with income.
At the heart of Mission 300 are the National Energy Compacts. The Compacts are tailored to each country’s context and combine infrastructure, financing, and policy. Development partners such as the Rockefeller Foundation and the Global Energy Alliance are working closely with African governments to accelerate delivery.
National leaders expressed strong support. Cameroon promised a transition to renewable energy, while Ethiopia pledged to harness renewable resources and regional links for inclusive growth. Comoros is committed to universal access by 2030, and Botswana described energy as a shared dignity, equity, and prosperity pledge.
With electricity reforms in Africa firmly at the centre, Mission 300 shows a united continental effort. Therefore, by aligning strategies, governments and partners intend to end energy poverty and build long-term sustainable growth.