The Rockefeller Foundation and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet have committed more than $100 million to support Mission 300, a World Bank and African Development Bank initiative aimed at connecting 300 million people in Africa to electricity by 2030. The funding, which began with a $10 million commitment in September 2024, has grown more than 10 times in 19 months, according to a statement from the partners.
Rajiv Shah, president of the Rockefeller Foundation, said the foundation is making its biggest bet in history on connecting people to electricity as the single best path out of mass poverty.
He said: “Our investment in Mission 300 reflects our commitment to how best to advance human well-being in the 21st century: leading countries, leveraging cutting-edge technology and relentlessly focusing on achievable and measurable goals. We look forward to working with our partners to continue the extraordinary momentum behind Mission 300 and connect even more people in Africa, including a growing number of young people, to employment, dignity and prosperity.”
African Development Bank Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth Kevin Kariuki added that Mission 300 is fundamentally about achieving goals and translating them into large-scale results.
Kariuki explained that catalytic capital from partners such as the Rockefeller Foundation and the Global Energy Alliance plays a critical role in strengthening government delivery capacity, de-risking investments, and accelerating projects that can mobilize greater public and private funding.
Also, Woo-chung Um, CEO of the Global Energy Alliance, asserted that reliable, affordable and abundant electricity is essential for jobs, prosperity and resilience.
He added: “Our Alliance is proud to support Mission 300, which brings together partners from governments, development banks, philanthropy, non-profits and the private sector to unlock investment and accelerate supply. From compact supply and monitoring units to decentralized renewable energy and productive use programmes, we are focused on ensuring new electricity connections lead to lasting economic opportunities for people and communities across Africa.”
Mission 300 supports countries through technical assistance, investment programs, and private sector mobilization. The initiative is currently being implemented in 23 countries, including Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.
Since its launch in April 2024, Mission 300 has enabled approximately 44 million people to have access to electricity, with tens of millions more expected to have access to electricity by the end of 2026. The statement noted that nearly 730 million people in Africa remain without access to electricity, with approximately 85 per cent of those without electricity in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Rockefeller Foundation and the Global Energy Alliance said that support will include technical assistance to national energy sectors, clean cooking initiatives, financing facilities for energy-efficient appliances, and investments in renewable energy projects to expand off-grid power access.
