Mission 300: Africa Races to Deliver Electricity to 300 Million by 2030
African leaders and global development institutions have set an ambitious goal to bring electricity to 300 million people by 2030, a transformative effort aimed at bridging the continent’s energy access gap. The initiative, dubbed Mission 300, is the focus of the Africa Energy Summit, which begins January 27 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Over 1,000 participants, including heads of state, energy ministers, development partners, and private sector leaders, are expected to attend the two-day summit hosted by the African Union, the African Development Bank Group (ADB), and the World Bank Group.
“It’s a tight journey because 2030 is only five years away, and we need to deliver actual connections, not promises,” said Daniel Schroth, ADB’s Director for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, during a media briefing.
Launched in April 2024 by the World Bank Group and ADB, the initiative aims to transform Africa’s energy landscape by mobilizing resources, fostering cross-border energy trade, and strengthening public-private partnerships.
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Franz Drees-Gross, the World Bank’s Director of Infrastructure for West Africa, described Mission 300 as “a movement” rather than a mere target. “This is about creating lasting impact to power Africa’s growth and enable millions of people to access essential services,” he noted.
The summit will unveil new strategies, including a $10 million technical assistance facility backed by the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) and The Rockefeller Foundation. The facility will support electricity projects across 11 African nations, focusing on low-cost power generation, regional energy integration, and private investment.
Countries like Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Côte d’Ivoire will commit to reforms in key areas, presenting national energy compacts that outline their paths to universal electricity access.
President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria will deliver a national statement, reaffirming the country’s leadership in Africa’s energy sector and highlighting clean energy initiatives. The summit will conclude with the endorsement of the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, providing a unified roadmap to meet the Mission 300 objectives.
“What sets this initiative apart is the ‘all hands-on deck’ approach,” said Sarvesh Suri, IFC’s Director for Infrastructure in Africa. “It’s a collaborative effort to tackle Africa’s energy access challenges comprehensively.”
While the 2030 target is ambitious, leaders are optimistic that the combined efforts of African governments, development institutions, and private stakeholders can drive the continent toward universal electricity access—a critical step in unlocking Africa’s full potential.
