KAMPALA, June 17, 2026 — The World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group have announced that Mission 300 has now connected more than 50 million people to electricity across 40 countries, marking a major milestone towards the initiative’s target of reaching an additional 300mln people by 2030.
The programme is currently delivering electricity access at nearly twice the pace recorded at its launch, driven by investments across the full energy value chain — from generation and transmission to last-mile distribution. The initiative has expanded both grid and off-grid connections, bringing power to households, businesses, and public institutions.
In Tanzania, 7.5mln people have gained electricity access under Mission 300 — a five-fold increase in the country’s average annual electrification rate prior to the initiative — supported by increased financing and strengthened policy reforms.
In Ethiopia, 4.6mln people have been connected, aided by reforms that have reduced the cost of grid connections.
Officials say the programme’s progress reflects a shift from fragmented interventions to coordinated action, aligning governments, development partners, and private investors around a single agenda. This coordination has supported stronger political commitment, policy reform, and increased mobilisation of financing to accelerate electrification.
To date, the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group have committed nearly US$15 billion to Mission 300 projects, alongside about US$ 4.5bln in co-financing. Development partners have also pledged more than US$ 7bln in additional support to Africa’s energy sector.
In Nigeria, more than 4.5mln people have been connected through private sector-led initiatives, highlighting the role of blended financing and policy reforms in creating commercially viable energy markets.
So far, 30 countries have launched National Energy Compacts — country-led plans aimed at expanding generation capacity, scaling renewable energy, strengthening regional integration, and increasing private sector participation. Additional compacts are expected from Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Djibouti, Gabon, Rwanda, and Uganda at the Africa Energy Forum this week.
“Fifty million people connected is a milestone — but the bigger story is the pace and the partnership behind it,” said Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group. “Mission 300 is helping countries move faster, connect more people, and build a platform that will last well beyond this effort.”
He added that electricity access is “not just about power, but what it enables — jobs, business, healthcare, education and opportunity.”
Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank Group, said the milestone should serve as a catalyst for accelerated progress. “This must become the launchpad for faster electrification to enhance food security through affordable irrigation, improve health outcomes through better storage of medicines, and drive inclusive economic empowerment,” he said.
He called for stronger collective action, adding: “Governments, partners, the private sector and all stakeholders in this movement must double down to achieve access for 300mln people by 2030. We need all hands-on deck.”
Partners supporting the initiative said the results demonstrate the impact of coordinated investment and policy reform.
Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation, said the milestone showed that “African-led big bets, backed by bold investment and partnership, can deliver results quickly and at scale,” noting the Foundation and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet have committed more than US$ 100mln to the initiative.
Damilola Ogunbiyi, Chief Executive Officer and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, said the achievements reflect strong political commitment by African governments. “Together with partners, we will continue supporting the implementation of National Energy Compacts and accelerating progress towards universal energy access by 2030,” she said.
Woochong Um, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, said the initiative shows the value of aligned action. “When public, private and philanthropic partners align behind country-led solutions, we can move faster and deliver at scale,” he said.
Launched in 2024, Mission 300 is a joint initiative of the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group, supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, Sustainable Energy for All, and a broad coalition of governments, development institutions, and private sector partners.
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