A new initiative aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030, supported by an initial US$30 billion commitment from the World Bank and the African Development Bank.
This program, known as Mission 300, will assess potential beneficiaries and is backed by major climate organizations like the Rockefeller Foundation and the Global Alliance for People and Planet. Their new technical assistance facility will evaluate projects and help secure funding, aiming to raise at least US$90 billion overall.
Rajiv Shah, president of the Rockefeller Foundation, emphasized the importance of starting with initial funding to help jumpstart electrification efforts across sub-Saharan Africa. If successful, the initiative could provide power to half of the 600 million Africans currently without electricity, with many countries like South Sudan, Burundi, and Chad facing severe access challenges.
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Ashvin Dayal, head of the Rockefeller Foundation’s power and climate program, highlighted that progress in electrification has stagnated in recent years, calling it a critical challenge for the continent. The foundation, alongside GEAPP—which it co-founded with the Bezos Earth Fund and the Ikea Foundation—has allocated US$10 million to kickstart 15 clean-energy projects across 11 African nations.
One notable project is Nigeria’s DARES initiative, where the World Bank plans to invest US$750 million to expand rooftop solar and mini-grids, potentially benefiting 17.5 million people. In total, the World Bank intends to commit US$25 billion to this program, with the African Development Bank contributing US$5 billion. Further funding announcements are expected at an upcoming World Bank meeting in South Korea in December, and a summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is scheduled for January.
The funding strategy aims to equally source US$90 billion from public, philanthropic, and commercial channels. Potential sources include the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Trust. GEAPP’s CEO, Woochong Um, stated the need for bankable projects that yield both social impact and financial returns. To attract funding, countries will need to implement reforms promoting green energy expansion. Ajay Banga, World Bank president, stressed the importance of building a broad coalition for ongoing progress in expanding electricity access across Africa.
