AfDB and SEforALL Launch New Drive to Expand Electricity Access

The new program focuses on strengthening national institutions responsible for implementing energy reforms and coordinating electrification projects.

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) have launched a new technical assistance initiative designed to help African countries accelerate efforts to expand electricity access and achieve ambitious energy targets.

The announcement was made during the Compact Delivery and Monitoring Units Convening in Nairobi, where both organizations introduced the Africa Energy Sector Technical Assistance Program (AESTAP–Mission 300 Phase I). The initiative is part of Mission 300, a joint effort led by the African Development Bank and the World Bank Group that aims to provide electricity access to an additional 300 million people across Africa by 2030.

The new program focuses on strengthening national institutions responsible for implementing energy reforms and coordinating electrification projects. By improving planning, monitoring and collaboration, the initiative seeks to help countries turn commitments into measurable results on the ground.

National energy teams to receive technical support

Under the program, the African Development Bank Group will provide technical assistance to Compact Delivery and Monitoring Units (CDMUs), which serve as national coordination platforms in participating countries. These units play a central role in overseeing the implementation of National Energy Compacts and ensuring that different government agencies work together effectively.

SEforALL, which will oversee implementation during the next 12 months, will provide support through peer-learning exchanges, stakeholder engagement activities, knowledge-sharing initiatives and monitoring systems designed to track progress.

The program builds on SEforALL's existing role as Secretariat to both the Mission 300 Joint Working Group and the Compact Working Group. Over the past two years, these structures have helped coordinate the development of National Energy Compacts across 30 African countries, aligning governments, development partners and private sector stakeholders around shared energy goals.

As national delivery hubs, CDMUs are responsible for monitoring commitments, resolving implementation challenges and ensuring that reforms move forward efficiently. Strengthening these institutions is viewed as a key step toward accelerating energy access across the continent.

Mission 300 continues to gain momentum

Officials from both organisations emphasised that achieving universal energy access requires strong national leadership, effective institutions and close coordination among all stakeholders.

Wale Shonibare, Director for Energy Financial Solutions, Policy and Regulation at the African Development Bank Group, described Mission 300 as a delivery-focused initiative aimed at transforming ambitious targets into tangible outcomes. He noted that stronger government capacity and better monitoring systems are essential for achieving large-scale electrification goals.

Lolade Abiola, Chief of Staff at Sustainable Energy for All, highlighted the organization's role in supporting operational planning, performance monitoring and technical coordination under Mission 300. She said the new program would help ensure that national implementation teams are equipped to coordinate reforms and track progress effectively.

Mission 300 has already delivered significant results. More than 50 million people have gained access to electricity through the initiative, while millions more are expected to benefit from projects currently under development by the end of 2026.

The program has also helped 30 countries launch National Energy Compacts that outline specific targets, policy reforms and investment priorities aimed at expanding access to affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity.

With hundreds of millions of Africans still lacking access to power, development leaders see Mission 300 as one of the continent's most important energy initiatives. By strengthening national delivery systems and supporting country-led implementation, AfDB and SEforALL hope to accelerate progress toward universal energy access and create new opportunities for economic growth, job creation and improved living standards across Africa.