The Rockefeller Foundation has pledged US$ 10 million to support efforts to expand electricity access across Africa, through Mission 300, an electrification initiative led by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank that aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.
- •The Rockefeller Foundation said that the funds will be used primarily to strengthen the technical capacity of government-led energy delivery units responsible for implementing national electrification plans.
- •The programme will be implemented in partnership with the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, a coalition that mobilizes financing and technical support for energy transition and electrification projects in developing economies.
- •The Rockefeller Foundation’s contribution forms part of a broader push to mobilize both public and private capital for energy infrastructure, including grid expansion, mini-grids, and off-grid renewable systems.
"We are proud to expand this program in support of Mission 300, so we can continue improving people’s lives and livelihoods by giving them the tools they need to thrive,” said William Asiko, Vice President of Africa at The Rockefeller Foundation.
Energy demand in Africa is expected to grow rapidly over the coming decades as the continent’s population expands and economies industrialize.
According to the foundation, the initiative will focus on at least 15 African countries, helping governments improve planning, project coordination, and monitoring systems for electricity expansion programmes. Early technical assistance efforts linked to the initiative are already underway in countries such as Malawi and Liberia, while related support has also been extended to Nigeria, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire. The announcement was made during Mission 300 Day at the Africa Energy Indaba in Cape Town, one of the continent’s major gatherings focused on energy investment and policy.
Electricity access remains one of the continent’s most significant development challenges. Data from the International Energy Agency indicates that roughly 600 million people in Africa still lack access to electricity, representing the largest energy deficit globally. Limited access to reliable power continues to constrain industrialization, economic productivity, and the delivery of essential services such as healthcare, education, and digital connectivity.
While philanthropic funding represents only a small share of the capital required to close Africa’s energy gap, they play a catalytic role in speeding up project development and reducing bottlenecks that have historically slowed electrification programmes.
Institutions such as the World Bank and African Development Bank have increasingly prioritized electricity access as a central component of economic development strategies across the region.
