Africa’s flagship Mission 300 programme has secured approximately $1.4 billion in additional co-financing from international development partners, strengthening efforts to expand electricity access across the continent and bringing fresh momentum to one of the world’s most ambitious energy infrastructure initiatives.
Launched in 2024 by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank (AfDB), Mission 300 seeks to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, addressing one of the continent’s most persistent barriers to economic growth, industrialisation and social development.
According to a progress report released by the programme, more than 50 million people across 40 African countries have already gained access to electricity since the initiative began. The pace of new connections is nearly twice the rate recorded before Mission 300 was launched, underscoring the impact of coordinated financing, policy reforms and private-sector participation.
The European Investment Bank emerged as the largest co-financier, committing $347 million. Other major contributors include the African Development Bank with $161 million, the Green Climate Fund with $129 million, Italy with $117 million, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank with $100 million. Additional funding has been provided by trust funds, the French Development Agency, the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program, the OPEC Fund, and the European Commission.
The reported co-financing relates solely to World Bank-supported operations and excludes the AfDB’s direct project financing. Collectively, the World Bank and AfDB have committed nearly $15 billion to Mission 300 projects, mobilised roughly $4.5 billion in co-financing and attracted more than $7 billion in additional commitments from development partners.
Country-level results highlight the programme’s growing impact. Tanzania has emerged as the largest beneficiary, connecting approximately 7.5 million people, representing a five-fold increase over its pre-Mission 300 electrification pace. Ethiopia has added 4.6 million new electricity connections through affordability reforms, while Nigeria has connected more than 4.5 million people, largely through private sector-led electrification programmes.
World Bank Group President Ajay Banga described the achievement as evidence that collaborative financing and strong partnerships can significantly accelerate electricity access. AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah called on governments, development partners and private investors to intensify their commitments if the initiative is to achieve its target of reaching 300 million people by the end of the decade.
With 30 African countries already implementing National Energy Compacts and six more expected to join, Mission 300 is emerging as a cornerstone of Africa’s long-term energy strategy. If sustained, the initiative could help narrow the continent’s electricity deficit, improve business productivity, attract investment and enhance living standards for the more than 600 million Africans who still lack reliable access to power.
