African leaders have launched an ambitious initiative aimed at connecting 300 million people to electricity across the continent within the next five years.

The project, dubbed ‘Mission 300,’ was unveiled on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, during the African Heads of State Energy Summit held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, which was attended by Kenya’s President William Ruto.

According to a statement shared by Ruto on January 28, 2025, the World Bank has committed between $30 billion and $40 billion to the project, while the African Development Bank (AfDB) will invest $18 billion over the five-year period.

Speaking at the summit, World Bank President Ajay Banga commended the initiative which has been dubbed as the single largest public-private-philanthropic partnership in Africa.

“Mission 300 is the cornerstone of the jobs agenda and the foundation of future growth,” World Bank President Ajay Banga said during the summit.

The initiative which seeks to deliver affordable and sustainable power to Africans without electricity by 2030 will also be supported by the Rockefeller Foundation and the African Union. .

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, in her keynote address, emphasized the broader impact of the project.

“This summit goes beyond energy; it is about empowering families, lifting millions out of poverty, providing hope and opportunities for the youth,” she said.

Improving electricity access in Africa

AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina noted that although progress in electricity access across Africa increased from 39 per cent to 52 per cent between 2015 and 2024, significant challenges remain.

He highlighted that despite these advancements, Africa still has 571 million people without electricity.

“Despite the progress made, Africa still has 571 million people without electricity, accounting for 81 per cent of the global population without electricity,” Adesina said.

During the summit, the leaders also signed the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, which outlines actionable steps to accelerate energy sector reforms in their respective countries.

Adesina commended the African leaders for embracing this initiative, stating that it would promote economic growth and job creation.

“You will be remembered as Presidents who said let there be light, and there was light,” he said.

The initiative also focuses on clean cooking solutions, which are expected to prevent 600,000 deaths of women and children annually due to smoke exposure.

The deliberations from the summit led to the creation of the first set of National Energy Compacts, serving as blueprints with country-specific targets and timelines for implementing critical reforms.

Leaders present

Present at the summit were several African leaders, including President William Ruto of Kenya, President Mohamed Ould Ghazaouani of Mauritania (who is also the African Union Chair), President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, Rajiv Shah (President of the Rockefeller Foundation), Makhtar Diop (Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation), and Patrick Pouyanné (CEO of Total).