- The Mission 300 initiative aims to bring electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030, backed by an initial $30 billion from the World Bank and the African Development Bank.
- A new technical assistance facility, supported by major climate organisations, will evaluate projects and help secure funding for clean energy solutions across sub-Saharan Africa.
A major initiative to bring electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030 has commenced, backed by an initial pledge of $30 billion from the World Bank and the African Development Bank.
The project, known as Mission 300, aims to address the electricity gap affecting nearly half of the 600 million people in Africa who currently lack access to power, especially in countries like South Sudan, Burundi, and Chad, where electrification rates are below 12%.
On Friday, September 20, prominent climate organizations, including the Rockefeller Foundation, Global Alliance for People and Planet, and Sustainable Energy For All, announced the formation of a technical assistance facility to evaluate projects and secure funding for qualified initiatives.
Rajiv Shah, president of the Rockefeller Foundation, emphasised that the facility is designed to kickstart the electrification plans of the World Bank and African Development Bank across sub-Saharan Africa.
Ashvin Dayal, head of the Rockefeller Foundation’s power and climate program, noted the stagnation in electricity access over the past 15 years, calling it a defining challenge for the continent’s development. The initiative will initially focus on supporting 15 projects across 11 African countries, utilising $10 million to promote clean energy solutions like mini-grids.
One highlighted project under Mission 300 is Nigeria’s DARES initiative, which received $750 million from the World Bank to expand rooftop solar and mini-grid systems, aiming to provide electricity to 17.5 million people in a country where 85 million remain without power.
Further commitments to the initiative are expected at an upcoming World Bank International Development Association meeting in South Korea in December, with a summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in January. The goal is to raise $90 billion, sourced equally from public funds, philanthropic financing, and commercial investments.
Ajay Banga, president of the World Bank, emphasised the need for a broad coalition to enhance funding access through reforms that promote green energy rollout. At the same time, Woochong Um, CEO of GEAPP, stressed the importance of creating bankable projects that deliver meaningful impact and sound returns.