African leaders have committed to an ambitious initiative that aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity within the next five years.
At least 30 African Heads of State and Government committed to collaborative efforts and implementation of concrete reforms and actions, which will expand access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity to power economic growth, improve quality of life, and drive job creation across the continent.
The leaders made this pledge in a declaration on Monday during the two-day Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in the Tanzanian commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. Mission 300 partners pledged more than $50 billion in support of increasing energy access across Africa.
Speaking during the first panel discussion of the opening day of the Summit, the AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, set the summit’s tone of action and implementation, emphasizing practical solutions to achieve the ambitious goal, from regulatory reforms to private sector engagement.
He noted that the programme seeks to transform Africa’s vast potential into reality through comprehensive electrification, and called for active involvement from a wide range of stakeholders, including bilateral and multilateral institutions, private sector entities, civil society organizations, and foundations.
Adesina said, “This is mission critical… Our mission here is to say we need everybody… It’s not about us, it’s about those who are not here, and we must listen and hear and make sure this is an action-driven summit… We can’t do Mickey Mouse business… We can’t have a situation where Africa does not have enough electricity.”
“We have a clear path to reaching these 300 million people. With power, Africa will not just meet expectations but exceed them, becoming a competitive and prosperous continent,” he added, distinguishing the initiative from previous efforts.
Participants at the summit included several African energy ministers, international development partners and private sector titans, civil society organizations, and foundations
Organized by the Government of Tanzania and Mission 300 Initiative, the summit is a landmark collaboration between the African Development Bank Group, the World Bank Group and global partners to address Africa’s electricity access gap using new technology and innovative financing.
About 600 million Africans lack electricity, a critical resource for economic development and job creation, according to the Africa Development Bank (AfDB).
The second day of the summit also saw the participation of several heads of state from across Africa, who joined over 1,500 other participants, to chart Africa’s course toward universal access to energy.
