AfDB, World Bank Unveil $10 Million Mission to Power 300 Million Africans by 2030

  • AfDB, World Bank, and partners commit $10M to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030 under Mission 300 (M300).
  • The initiative targets energy projects in Nigeria and 10 other African countries, focusing on technology and innovative financing.
  • Leaders at the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit push for energy reforms to reduce Africa’s massive electricity gap.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank Group have partnered with development partners to provide electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030. This initiative directly addresses Africa’s severe energy poverty. The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) and the Rockefeller Foundation have pledged $10 million for technical assistance in Nigeria and 10 other African countries. The plan also energises the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) projects.

Named Mission 300 (M300), this initiative aims to close Africa’s electricity gap using advanced technology and innovative financing. Nearly 600 million Africans—83% of the world’s energy-deprived population—live without power.

The launch of Mission 300 aligns with the first Africa Heads of State Energy Summit. Thirty African heads of state, five non-African leaders, and over 1,500 private sector participants have gathered to discuss commitments to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.

AfDB President Dr Akinwumi Adesina stressed the link between energy and economic growth. “No economy can grow, industrialise, or compete without electricity. Mission 300 is a game changer for Africa,” he said. Leaders introduced Mission 300 at the 2024 World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings with the backing of the G7 and G20.

In the first phase, Nigeria and 11 other countries, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia, will present their energy plans. More African nations will follow with their plans in later phases.

The summit expects two key outcomes. First, the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration will urge African governments to commit to energy sector reforms. Second, the summit will highlight successful energy stories from selected countries. Participants will form a coalition of stakeholders to accelerate energy infrastructure investments and improve regional power planning, trade, and policies.

These efforts align with the African Union’s Continental Master Plan and the African Single Electricity Market. World Bank Group President Ajay Banga urged collective action. “We need action from governments, financing from multilateral banks, and investment from the private sector,” he said.

The AfDB’s current energy projects aim to deliver 43 million new electricity connections, pushing Africa closer to its electrification goals.

With clear goals and strong partnerships, Mission 300 aims to transform Africa’s energy landscape. The initiative will lift millions out of energy poverty, drive economic growth, and improve livelihoods across the continent.

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