Mission 300 Lights Up Africa: 50 million gain electricity in two years

The World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have announced that more than 50 million Africans in 40 countries have gained access to electricity through the Mission 300 programme since it was launched in 2024.

Mission 300 aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030 through investments in power infrastructure, financing, and energy sector reforms.

World Bank President Ajay Banga said the programme is helping countries expand electricity access more quickly while building long-term energy systems. He noted that electricity is important not only for homes and businesses but also for job creation, healthcare, education, and economic growth.

AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah said the initiative should help improve food security through affordable irrigation, strengthen healthcare services by supporting medicine storage, and create more economic opportunities across Africa.

The programme has already achieved nearly 17% of its goal of connecting 300 million people to electricity by 2030. Africa currently has about 565 million people without electricity, representing more than 80% of the global population lacking power access.

Mission 300 seeks to mobilise at least $90 billion from governments, private investors, and development institutions. So far, the World Bank and AfDB have committed nearly $15 billion, secured about $4.5 billion in co-financing, and attracted over $7 billion in additional support from development partners.

According to the two institutions, about 7.5 million people in Tanzania, 4.6 million people in Ethiopia, and another 4.6 million people in Nigeria have already benefited from the programme.

The initiative has also encouraged reforms in Africa’s energy sector. Thirty countries have established National Energy Compacts, which are plans designed to improve energy systems and expand access to affordable electricity. More countries are expected to launch similar plans soon.

In February 2026, Mission 300 announced plans to provide electricity access to 17.5 million Nigerian households. Earlier in the year, the AfDB approved a $3.9 million project to help Nigeria and 12 other African countries implement energy compacts under the programme.

The World Bank also approved $50 million in January 2026 to support solar-powered agricultural projects in Nigeria and five other African countries. The funding is intended to improve farm productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, and expand access to clean energy.

In January 2025, former AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina announced that the AfDB and the World Bank Group would jointly commit $40 billion to support Mission 300, highlighting the strong international backing for Africa’s electrification efforts.