17 African Nations Endorse National Energy Compacts to Expand Electricity Access Backed by World Bank and AfDB

Seventeen African governments have committed to actionable electricity reforms under Mission 300, a landmark initiative led by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank (AfDB) aimed at connecting 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.

The endorsed National Energy Compacts serve as tailored policy blueprints to guide public spending, drive reforms, attract private investment, and strengthen utilities. Countries involved include Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

World Bank Group President Ajay Banga emphasized that “electricity is the bedrock of jobs, opportunity, and economic growth,” while AfDB President Dr. Sidi Ould Tah highlighted the transformative impact of reliable power on SMEs, agro-processing, digital work, and industrial value addition.

These energy compacts, developed with support from development partners including the Rockefeller Foundation, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, and Sustainable Energy for All, mark a significant collaborative step toward universal, sustainable, and affordable electricity access across Africa.