<\/p>\n
The milestone marks progress toward the initiative\u2019s target of reaching 300 million additional people by 2030, with electrification now advancing at nearly twice the pace recorded at the start of the programme.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The joint initiative focuses on investments across the full energy value chain, including generation, transmission and last-mile distribution, expanding both grid and off-grid access to households, businesses and public institutions.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In Tanzania, more than 7.5 million people have gained access to electricity under the programme, representing a five-fold increase in the rate of electrification prior to Mission 300. In Ethiopia, 4.6 million people have been connected, supported by reforms that lowered the cost of grid access.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The programme\u2019s approach centres on aligning governments, development partners and private investors under a single framework aimed at accelerating electrification through coordinated action and policy reform.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
To date, the World Bank and the AfDB have committed nearly $15 billion in financing, supplemented by about $4.5 billion in co-financing. Additional partners have pledged more than $7 billion to support Africa\u2019s energy sector.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The initiative is also designed to attract private investment by reducing risk through public financing tools, including grants, guarantees and concessional loans. In Nigeria, more than 4.5 million people have been connected through private-sector-led projects supported by the programme.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Around 30 countries have launched National Energy Compacts under Mission 300, outlining plans to expand power generation, promote renewable energy and strengthen regional integration.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
World Bank Group President Ajay Banga said the milestone reflects both scale and momentum. \u201cFifty million people connected is a milestone, but the bigger story is the pace and the partnership behind it,\u201d Banga said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Banga added that expanding electricity access is key to broader development outcomes. \u201cElectricity is not just about power, it is about what it enables: jobs, business, health care, education, and opportunity,\u201d Banga said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
AfDB Group President Sidi Ould Tah said the achievement should accelerate further progress. \u201cThe 50 million milestone is indeed commendable. This must become the launchpad for faster electrification,\u201d Tah said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Tah called for increased collaboration to meet the programme\u2019s long-term targets. \u201cWe need all hands on deck to achieve access for 300 million people by 2030,\u201d Tah said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
–AfDB\/ChannelAfrica–<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":37371,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"news-type":[44],"class_list":["post-37370","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-type-finance","entry"],"acf":{"short_description":"The World Bank Group and African Development Bank (AfDB) say Mission 300 has connected over 50 million people to electricity across Africa.","published_date":"","news_description":"The World Bank Group and African Development Bank (AfDB) say Mission 300 has connected over 50 million people to electricity across Africa.","form_embed":"","author":"","image_caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/37370","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/37370\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37372,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/37370\/revisions\/37372"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37370"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-type?post=37370"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}