The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $3.9 million, two-year technical assistance project under Mission 300, an AfDB and World Bank initiative to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, to help African countries turn ambitious national energy commitments into real electricity connections.
This project, AESTAP Mission 300 – Phase II, decisively shifts the focus from planning to execution. Provide practical technical assistance to 13 countries to accelerate the implementation of national energy agreements: Chad, Gabon, Tanzania, Mauritania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Malawi, Lesotho, Namibia and Uganda.
From commitment to connection
The Energy Compact is a government-led national plan that outlines how countries will expand access to electricity, strengthen utilities, and attract private investment. Over the past year, dozens of African governments have launched these agreements, supported by strong political leadership and support from international partners.
“AESTAP Mission 300 Phase II is about implementation,” said Wale Shonibare, Director of Energy Finance Solutions, Policy and Regulation at AfDB. “Countries are making bold commitments, and now we are helping them translate those commitments into electricity for homes, entrepreneurs, schools, hospitals, and communities.”
What Phase II brings
Over the next 24 months, the project will provide targeted practical support to help countries overcome bottlenecks slowing electrification. This initiative will:
Improve electricity regulation, planning and pricing structures to enable investment
Strengthen power companies to reduce losses and improve reliability
Strengthen data, research, and peer learning through power regulation indexes, regional energy forums, and more
Deploy expert advisors within the country’s Compact Delivery and Monitoring Unit (CDMU) to coordinate reforms and track results
This built-in support model is designed to help governments maintain momentum, collaborate with ministries and regulators, and deliver on-the-ground impact from policy reforms faster.
Build on early foundations
Phase II builds directly on AESTAP Mission 300 Phase I, which was approved in December 2025 and provided approximately $1 million to support the establishment and operation of CDMUs in each country. Phase I focused on staffing, training, monitoring systems, and a reform roadmap.
Phase II works closely with Mission 300 partners, including the World Bank, national governments, and development agencies, adding the technical depth needed to implement large-scale reforms while ensuring coordination and avoiding duplication.
why is it important now
Mission 300, which puts electricity access at the heart of economic growth, job creation, service delivery and climate resilience, represents one of the most ambitious electricity access initiatives on the continent. The Bank’s latest approval signals a shift towards discipline in policy delivery and ensures that political commitments translate into tangible results for the people.
Call to action: Scale what works.
AESTAP Mission 300 Phase II provides governments, utilities, regulators, investors, and development partners with a platform to accelerate transformation, focus investment, and scale proven solutions. To reach the 2030 goals, it is important to start early and align with the Compact priorities.
As Mission 300 moves into the implementation phase, the message from the AfDB is clear. Planning alone is no longer enough; implementation is paramount.
