African countries have made significant strides in their efforts to increase access to electricity, with 17 nations unveiling their National Energy Compacts as part of the Mission 300 initiative. This joint effort, led by the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank Group, aims to connect an additional 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. The unveiling of the compacts, which took place in New York, brings the total number of countries that have finalized their compacts to 29.
The National Energy Compacts are comprehensive documents that outline data-driven targets, policy measures, and resource commitments by African governments to achieve the objectives of Mission 300. The development and implementation of these compacts are country-led, with an emphasis on engagement with local communities and civil society groups, as well as rigorous mechanisms for monitoring progress.
The launch event was attended by several high-profile dignitaries, including the President of Ethiopia, the President of Ghana, and the Prime Minister of Lesotho, among others. The 17 countries that launched their energy compacts, referred to as “Cohort 2,” include Benin, Botswana, Burundi, and Cameroon, among others. They join the first cohort of 12 countries that unveiled their compacts in January 2025.
According to Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, the first batch of compacts identified over 400 policy actions aimed at strengthening utilities, simplifying regulation, and improving the business environment. He noted that the progress is measurable, with 30 million people already connected to electricity through the partnership, and a pipeline to reach over 100 million additional people already in motion.
The President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, reiterated the bank’s commitment to the initiative, emphasizing the importance of speed, synergy, scale, and impact. He noted that the significance of Mission 300 lies in its high ambitions and emphasis on collaboration, bringing together a variety of partners, including the private sector and philanthropies, to bridge Africa’s energy access gap.
The initiative has also received support from other key partners, including the UN Sustainable Energy for All, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. The African Development Bank Group’s roles in Mission 300 include direct financing, mobilizing private sector financing, and assisting with partner coordination. The bank also provides technical assistance to national governments, supporting regulatory reforms and power utility upgrades.
With the unveiling of the National Energy Compacts, Mission 300 is poised to make significant progress in increasing access to electricity in Africa. The initiative seeks to cut in half the population of Africans currently living without access to electricity, estimated at 600 million people. The World Bank Group is expected to deliver access to 250 million people, while the African Development Bank Group will target 50 million. The success of Mission 300 will have a significant impact on the lives of millions of Africans, and its progress will be closely watched in the coming years.