AfDB Launches $3.9 Million Facility To Accelerate Mission 300 Power Access Goal

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has launched a new technical assistance facility to speed up the ambitious “Mission 300” initiative, a joint program with the World Bank Group that aims to provide electricity access to 300 million people in Africa by 2030. The newly announced support package is valued at $3.9 million and will run for two years, offering targeted assistance to 13 African governments.

The initiative, formally known as AESTAP Mission 300 Phase II, is designed to help participating countries implement their National Energy Compacts. These compacts are country-specific strategies that outline how each nation plans to expand energy access and improve its power sector. The latest funding will be used to hire external experts and deploy dedicated advisors within national delivery and monitoring units. By placing specialists directly inside government systems, the program aims to improve coordination, strengthen oversight, and address technical and regulatory challenges that often slow down large-scale energy projects.

Phase II builds on Phase I of the program, which was approved in December and allocated $1 million. The first phase focused on setting up the basic administrative and institutional structures needed to manage the initiative. With these foundations in place, the second phase shifts attention to high-level technical support and practical implementation.

Around 30 African governments have already committed to the broader Mission 300 agenda. The program is seen as a major effort to tackle energy poverty across the continent, where millions of people still lack reliable electricity. Many African power sectors face persistent challenges, including outdated infrastructure, limited generation capacity, financial constraints, and regulatory weaknesses. By strengthening policy frameworks and improving governance, the initiative aims to create a more stable and attractive environment for private and international investment.

Despite strong backing from development partners, the scale of the challenge remains significant. Connecting 300 million people to electricity within the next few years will require hundreds of billions of dollars in investment, along with substantial expansion in power generation, transmission, and distribution networks. Analysts note that meeting the 2030 target will demand sustained political commitment, institutional reform, and large-scale financing.

Even so, AfDB’s latest move signals a clear commitment to advancing energy access across Africa. By focusing on capacity building and practical support for governments, the bank hopes to turn national plans into concrete results. If successful, the Mission 300 initiative could help lay the groundwork for reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity for millions of households and businesses across the continent.