AfDB Approves $3.9 Million Project to Boost Electricity Access in 13 African Countries

Abuja: The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a US$3.9 million two-year technical assistance project to support African countries in expanding electricity access. This initiative, named AESTAP Mission 300 Phase II, aims to provide direct technical support to 13 Mission 300 countries over the next 24 months. It is designed to assist these nations in implementing their National Energy Compacts under Mission 300, a collaborative initiative by the AfDB and the World Bank to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. According to Ghana News Agency, this project will enable governments to improve electricity regulations, planning, and tariffs to attract investments and enhance utility performance. AESTAP Mission 300 Phase II will also support better data management, research, and learning across countries through tools such as the Electricity Regulatory Index and regional energy forums. Additionally, expert advisers will be placed inside national Compact Delivery and M onitoring Units to aid governments in coordinating reforms and tracking progress. The beneficiary countries of this project include Chad, Gabon, Tanzania, Mauritania, DRC, Kenya, Nigeria, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Malawi, Lesotho, Namibia, and Uganda. These nations are expected to transition from documented energy plans to actual electricity connections for homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses. Wale Shonibare, Director of Energy Financial Solutions, Policy and Regulation at the AfDB, emphasized the project's importance, stating, "Countries have made bold commitments through their energy compacts. Now, through AESTAP Mission 300 Phase II, we are helping them implement those commitments so that more households, entrepreneurs, and communities actually get electricity." The new project builds upon the earlier approval of AESTAP Mission 300 Phase I in December 2025, which allocated approximately US$1 million to assist countries in establishing and managing their Compact Delivery and Monitoring Units. These unit s are embedded within governments and are responsible for coordinating energy reforms across ministries and tracking progress. Phase I was focused on creating and strengthening these delivery teams, training staff, setting up monitoring tools, and helping countries plan their next steps. Phase II will extend this work by providing the technical support necessary to implement planned reforms. The project's implementation will be coordinated with other Mission 300 partners, including the World Bank, governments, and development organizations, to ensure a coordinated effort in achieving the ambitious goal of expanding electricity access across Africa.