The African Development Bank (AfDB) has unveiled two major initiatives aimed at transforming Africa’s energy landscape: Mission 300, a continent-wide electrification drive, and the inaugural Electricity Regulatory Index, a tool designed to benchmark power sector governance across African nations. Both announcements were made at the 2025 Africa Energy Forum in Dar es Salaam.
Mission 300 is a joint initiative between the AfDB and the World Bank that aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. The effort is expected to mobilize at least $90 billion in financing, with the AfDB and World Bank already committing a combined $40 billion, $18.2 billion from AfDB and $22 billion from the World Bank.
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The initiative will support both grid and off-grid solutions, with up to half of the targeted connections expected to come from decentralized clean energy systems, such as solar-powered mini-grids. The goal is to accelerate access in underserved and rural communities, reduce energy poverty, and unlock new opportunities for economic development.
Alongside the launch of Mission 300, the AfDB introduced the Electricity Regulatory Index (ERI), a performance assessment tool designed to measure the effectiveness of national electricity regulators across Africa. The Index evaluates governance structures, policy consistency, transparency, and the level of private-sector engagement in the electricity market. It is intended to serve as a benchmark for investment readiness and regulatory health in African power sectors.
Speaking at the forum, AfDB leadership emphasized that robust regulatory frameworks are essential for attracting private capital into the energy sector. The ERI will support governments in identifying reform priorities and improving the investment climate across energy value chains.
Private sector representatives at the event, including executives from TotalEnergies and AMEA Power, underscored the importance of predictable regulation and efficient transmission infrastructure. The AfDB also announced new financing mechanisms to support local-currency lending and mitigate currency risk for private energy developers.
Twelve African countries have already committed to National Energy Compacts, which outline clear targets for electrification, regulatory reform, and investment facilitation. These compacts will form the basis of a forthcoming Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, expected to formalize shared commitments across AU member states.
According to AfDB estimates, Mission 300 could enable over 50 million electricity connections directly through its programs, contributing to job creation, industrial productivity, and climate-aligned infrastructure growth. It complements ongoing initiatives such as the Bank’s Desert-to-Power program and the New Deal on Energy for Africa.
The Africa Energy Forum highlighted growing alignment between public finance, multilateral support, and private sector ambition in reshaping Africa’s energy future. With Mission 300 and the ERI, the AfDB is signaling a shift from project-based interventions to a continent-wide, policy-driven, and investment-ready approach.
