Global Coalition Launches "Mission 300" to Electrify 300 Million Africans by 2030

"Mission 300" focuses on launching a new technical assistance facility, forming a leadership group with the AfDB and World Bank, and mobilizing private-sector financing to drive electrification.

In a bold move ahead of Climate Week NYC, a coalition of leading global organizations—Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), and The Rockefeller Foundation—announced their support for "Mission 300" (M300), an ambitious initiative aimed at providing electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030. Originally launched by the World Bank Group and African Development Bank (AfDB) in April 2024, the initiative seeks to transform energy access across the continent.

"Mission 300" focuses on launching a new technical assistance facility, forming a leadership group with the AfDB and World Bank, and mobilizing private-sector financing to drive electrification. The coalition aims to provide electricity to nearly half of Africa's population, which currently lacks reliable access to power. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, praised the initiative as a "game changer," emphasizing that no economy can grow or industrialize without electricity.

World Bank President Ajay Banga echoed the need for collaboration, stating, "Governments, multilateral banks, and private investment must come together to accelerate the pace of electrification." GEAPP and The Rockefeller Foundation have committed an initial $10 million to establish the technical assistance facility, targeting projects in 11 African countries, including Nigeria, Tanzania, and Zambia. These efforts will also support initiatives within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Africa’s largest regional economic bloc. Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation, highlighted the importance of the initiative: "Mission 300 is one of the most significant global development undertakings in decades, and its success depends on unprecedented collaboration to accelerate electrification."

The technical assistance facility has already received nearly three dozen requests for support since August. GEAPP’s CEO, Woochong Um, emphasized that "Mission 300" is not just about financial investment but also about fostering collaboration and innovation to build a sustainable energy future for all. The coalition has also created a joint governance body, co-chaired by SEforALL CEO Damilola Ogunbiyi, to monitor progress and ensure accountability across stakeholders. The partners aim to attract $90 billion in investment through multilateral development banks, private sector contributions, and philanthropic funds. They are advocating for significant replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA) and African Development Fund (ADF), which are key funding vehicles for low-income countries, with replenishment targets of $120 billion for IDA and $25 billion for ADF. Additionally, funding through the International Monetary Fund’s Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST) is being considered to help vulnerable countries build resilience and ensure sustainable growth.

Andrew Herscowitz, former head of Power Africa, has been named CEO of the M300 Accelerator to oversee and coordinate the initiative's efforts. By electrifying 300 million Africans, "Mission 300" will drive economic growth, reduce poverty, and create new opportunities across the continent, marking a significant step toward achieving universal energy access in Africa.