African Development Bank, in partnership with Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, hosted a high-level peer learning session in Nairobi aimed at strengthening electricity tariff-setting frameworks and enhancing regulatory capacity across Africa in support of universal energy access under Mission 300.
The one-day session was held alongside EPRA’s 7th Annual Regional Research and Innovation Conference and brought together more than 15 national electricity regulators, utilities, regional regulatory bodies, and development partners from across the continent.
Held under the theme “Strengthening Tariff Setting Frameworks for Advancing Energy Affordability and Security in Sustainable Development,” the event focused on sharing practical experiences and best practices related to electricity tariff design, cost-of-service studies, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory governance.
Speaking during the opening session, Callixte Kambanda highlighted the importance of strong regulatory institutions in achieving sustainable energy access across Africa.
“Achieving universal access in Africa requires more than infrastructure investment; it demands strong regulatory systems capable of balancing affordability, financial sustainability, and investor confidence. Regulators play a pivotal role in shaping the enabling environment needed to deliver Mission 300,” Kambanda stated.
The peer learning initiative forms part of the African Development Bank’s broader support through the Africa Energy Sector Technical Assistance Program (AESTAP), which assists African countries in implementing policy, regulatory, and institutional reforms under their National Energy Compacts.
The session particularly targeted countries receiving Mission 300 implementation support from the Bank, including nations currently undertaking electricity tariff reforms.
During the discussions, EPRA presented Kenya’s tariff review framework as a practical case study, sharing insights into its multi-year tariff methodology, public participation mechanisms, and performance-based regulatory practices.
Participants also examined common challenges affecting Africa’s power sector, including political and economic constraints, consumer protection concerns, renewable energy integration, utility financial sustainability, and financing requirements needed to advance universal electricity access goals.
Mission 300, a joint initiative of the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank, aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.
As part of the initiative, the African Development Bank is supporting several countries through AESTAP in areas including economic and technical regulation, tariff reform, utility performance improvement, quality-of-service regulation, network connection policies, and broader institutional strengthening.
The Bank stated that strong regulatory frameworks remain critical to ensuring that Africa’s energy access expansion is financially sustainable, investor-friendly, and equitable.
By facilitating regulator-to-regulator collaboration and knowledge sharing, the African Development Bank and EPRA aim to strengthen regional cooperation, support harmonisation of regulatory practices, and build a continent-wide network of regulators capable of advancing Africa’s long-term energy transition goals.
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