Rabat Hosts First “Mission 300 Day” to Accelerate Electricity Access in Africa by 2030
The “Mission 300” initiative marks a new phase in the journey toward universal electricity access in Africa. Launched by the World Bank and the African Development Bank in partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation, the Global Energy Alliance, and the “Sustainable Energy for Generations” initiative, this day dedicated to the mission took place alongside Market Days 2025 of the African Investment Forum held in Rabat.
The initiative aims to accelerate the pace of electricity access across the continent, with a strategic goal of providing reliable and affordable energy to an additional 300 million people by 2030.
The meeting served as a platform to showcase the “National Energy Contracts” drafted by 29 African countries, which represent clear, time-bound commitments to expand electricity supply, improve the performance of public companies, and attract private investment. The event brought together ministers, financial officials, international institutions, and investors to discuss implementation plans, track reforms, and enhance dialogue between governments and financial actors.
During this occasion, ministers from Comoros, Guinea, Gambia, and Lesotho presented their national visions for transforming the electricity sector, emphasizing the need to adapt regulatory frameworks and create favorable conditions to attract more investments, especially in production, transmission, and distribution.
Since its launch in 2018, the Africa Investment Forum has attracted over $225 billion in investment interest in projects aligned with sustainable development goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Development Bank’s priorities. Partners have leveraged this momentum to support “Mission 300” and promote large-scale energy solutions across the continent.
Eric Fernstrom, the World Bank’s regional infrastructure director, stated that the initiative reflects that “Africa is open for investment,” adding that deep reforms and bankable projects create real opportunities for private capital. He highlighted that access to energy is a lever for employment, growth, and improving living conditions.
Kevin Kariuki, Vice President of the African Development Bank, anticipated “large and rapid” investments in electricity production, transmission, and distribution, assuring that the bank is committed to reducing risks and enabling institutional capital, ensuring price sustainability, attracting investors, and creating millions of jobs.
Carolyn Kueisch, Vice President of the Global Energy Alliance, called for reliance on new technological solutions instead of past models, noting that her organization is working on providing technical support, developing bankable projects, and accelerating the deployment of distributed renewable energy in underserved areas.
Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO of Sustainable Energy for All, emphasized the importance of innovating new financial instruments capable of expanding private sector participation through local currency financing platforms, paving the way for a broader African mechanism for capital mobilization.
William Asiko, Vice President of the Rockefeller Foundation, described “Mission 300” as one of the most ambitious initiatives, confirming that discussions at AIF 2025 revealed significant alignment between governments and their partners, along with the emergence of bankable projects.
With the launch of “Mission 300 Day,” Africa takes another step toward achieving universal electricity access by uniting continental efforts, encouraging innovation, mobilizing the private sector, and accelerating sector reforms, with the aim of lighting the lives of 300 million citizens before the end of the decade.
