The World Bank Group has pledged $8.2 billion to significantly expand electricity access across Sub-Saharan Africa, in a major effort to address the region’s deepening energy gap, where nearly 600 million people still lack access to power.
The funding is part of “Mission 300”, a joint initiative with the African Development Bank Group aimed at connecting 300 million people to electricity by the year 2030. Under the plan, the World Bank will support 250 million new connections, while the African Development Bank is expected to provide 50 million.
According to the institution, the programme has already attracted an additional $1.2 billion in mobilised funding, with implementation underway across more than 40 countries and over 150 energy projects currently in progress.
Despite gradual improvements, electricity access remains a major obstacle to economic development in the region, affecting healthcare delivery, agricultural productivity, and industrial growth due to unreliable or absent power supply.
The World Bank said the initiative is not only focused on increasing access but also on driving broader economic transformation by linking electrification to job creation, digital expansion, and industrial development.
World Bank President Ajay Banga described electricity as essential to economic opportunity, noting that the initiative is designed to reduce costs, improve power utilities, and attract private investment into the energy sector.
The programme is anchored on National Energy Compacts, which are country-led reform frameworks aimed at improving investment conditions, strengthening energy utilities, and aligning national policies with long-term power development goals.
It also emphasizes private sector participation through mechanisms such as competitive procurement processes, regional power trade, and risk-reduction strategies to encourage investment in the energy sector.
The African Development Bank highlighted the importance of reliable electricity in supporting small businesses, agro-processing, digital jobs, and industrial growth, describing it as a key driver of employment across the continent.
Beyond economic impact, the initiative is expected to improve living standards by enhancing access to safer cooking methods, better education opportunities, and improved healthcare services through reliable electricity for hospitals and clinics.
The World Bank noted that progress under Mission 300 is currently accelerating, with connection rates reportedly moving significantly faster than previous electrification efforts.
