Mission 300 Summit calls for urgent action to close Africa’s energy gap

Dar es Salaam. World Bank President Ajay Banga and Rockefeller Foundation President Dr Rajiv Shah have underscored the critical need for urgent, collaborative action to address Africa’s energy deficit and unlock the continent’s economic potential.

Speaking at the Mission 300 Africa Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on January 28, 2025, the two leaders addressed the continent’s pressing energy and employment challenges before an audience of 21 heads of state, business leaders, and development partners.

Mr Banga stressed the scale of Africa’s employment crisis, noting that over the next decade, 360 million young Africans will enter the job market, yet only 150 million jobs are projected to be created.

“Three out of every five young people will lack opportunities to secure jobs that provide both income and dignity,” he remarked.

The World Bank President also emphasised energy as a cornerstone for Africa’s future development. He outlined the ambitious goals of Mission 300, which aims to provide electricity to 300 million people across the continent by 2030.

“This mission is not just about electricity or clean cooking; it’s about people, their optimism, and their dignity. It’s the foundation of future development, and we want to be your partners on this journey,” Mr Banga told the gathered leaders.

Despite ongoing efforts, more than half of Africa’s population remains without electricity.

Dr Shah highlighted the dire situation, with 600 million people living without basic electricity and another 500 million lacking affordable, productive power.

“Electricity is an absolute requirement for development in today’s global digital economy,” Dr Shah emphasised.

The two leaders called for collective action to bridge the energy gap. Mr Banga stressed that collaboration is key to success, urging governments, private investors, and development partners to work together.

“To succeed, we all have to embrace a simple truth: no one can do it alone. Only through collaboration can we achieve this idea of making it possible,” he stated.

Governments, Mr Banga added, must play a pivotal role in driving reform, as they craft the policies and regulations necessary for progress.

He also noted the importance of the private sector, with its ability to innovate, scale, and deliver results.

The World Bank, he promised, will help facilitate investment by removing policy barriers and creating a conducive environment for growth.

Dr Shah echoed similar sentiments, highlighting that Mission 300 is founded on a unique partnership that brings together the public, private, and philanthropic sectors.

“This initiative is led by African leaders, catalysing extraordinary concessional resources at a time of critical need,” he said.

The summit also focused on the potential of energy to drive job creation and economic growth.

Mr Banga pointed to complementary investments, such as those in natural gas, to support a just energy transition.

“While Mission 300 is the centerpiece, it’s part of a broader energy strategy,” he explained.

Dr Shah reflected on the long road to electrification in Africa, recalling the installation of Dar es Salaam’s first streetlights in 1908 as a significant milestone.

However, he lamented that many African households and businesses still lack the necessary energy to thrive.

“But there is hope,” Dr Shah said, expressing optimism that Mission 300 would succeed where previous initiatives had failed. “This initiative is driven by African leadership, backed by substantial concessional resources, and powered by collaborative partnerships.”

As the summit concluded, it became clear that energy is at the heart of tackling Africa’s urgent challenges.

Leaders agreed that achieving Mission 300’s goals will require the collective effort and support of all stakeholders, with a particular focus on capacity-building and removing policy barriers to attract investment.

“This is not just about infrastructure—it’s about people, their optimism, and their hopeful dignity,” Mr Banga concluded.

With the outcomes of the summit, Africa is poised to take bold steps toward overcoming its energy deficit and transforming its economic landscape.

Mission 300’s ambitious vision aims not only to light up homes but to illuminate a path to sustainable development and prosperity for millions across the continent.