The Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, held in Dar es Salaam in January 2025, marked a significant turning point in addressing Africa’s energy deficit. Thirty African heads of state and government endorsed the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, a pivotal commitment to expanding access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity. This declaration, a cornerstone of the Mission 300 initiative, aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, thereby stimulating economic growth, improving living standards, and creating employment opportunities. Partners in the Mission 300 initiative, encompassing governments, development banks, philanthropies, and the private sector, pledged over $50 billion to support this ambitious endeavor, illustrating a strong commitment to tackling this critical challenge. The declaration will be presented to the African Union Summit for formal adoption, solidifying the continent’s commitment to addressing this critical developmental need.
Central to the Mission 300 initiative is the development and implementation of National Energy Compacts. Twelve countries – Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia – presented detailed compacts outlining their targeted strategies for expanding electricity access, increasing renewable energy use, and attracting private investment. These plans are data-driven, time-bound, endorsed at the highest levels of government, and focus on affordable power generation, expanding grid connections, and regional energy integration. Further, the compacts emphasize improving the efficiency of existing utilities and expanding access to clean cooking solutions. By leveraging advanced technologies such as satellite and electronic mapping, these countries have identified the most cost-effective approaches to electrify underserved areas, laying a strong foundation for achieving their ambitious goals.
The successful implementation of these National Energy Compacts hinges on strong political will, long-term vision, and unwavering support from all Mission 300 partners. Participating governments are leading the way through comprehensive reforms, supported by increased concessional financing and strategic partnerships with philanthropies and development banks. These efforts are designed to catalyze greater private sector investment, a critical component for achieving the scale of transformation envisioned. Leaders at the summit underscored the fundamental importance of electricity access for human development and emphasized the collaborative nature of this ambitious undertaking.
The summit witnessed significant financial commitments from various partners demonstrating the collective commitment to achieving Mission 300’s goals. The African Development Bank Group and the World Bank Group together pledged $48 billion in financing through 2030, subject to adjustments based on implementation needs. Other partners, including the Agence Française de Dévelopment (AFD), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, and the OPEC Fund, pledged substantial contributions ranging from €1 billion to $2.65 billion, further solidifying the financial foundation of the initiative. These commitments demonstrate a global recognition of the importance of energy access in Africa and the collaborative spirit driving Mission 300.
In addition to financial commitments, the summit saw the launch of Zafiri, an investment company established by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group. Zafiri is designed to support private sector-led solutions, such as renewable mini-grids and solar home systems, and address the persistent equity gap in access to electricity. Anchor partners in Zafiri committed up to $300 million in the initial phase, with the goal of mobilizing up to $1 billion. This initiative underscores the importance of engaging the private sector in developing innovative and sustainable solutions for expanding energy access.
The firm commitments made by governments and partners at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit signify the unique strength and potential of this collaborative partnership. By combining government-led reforms, increased financing, and robust public-private partnerships, African countries are well-positioned to translate plans into concrete action. This concerted effort aims to deliver tangible benefits to millions of people, fostering economic development, improving quality of life, and driving job creation across the continent. The summit, hosted by Tanzania, the African Union, the African Development Bank Group, and the World Bank Group, with support from various organizations including the Rockefeller Foundation and the Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), underscored the shared commitment to addressing Africa’s energy challenge and unlocking the continent’s vast potential.
