Mission 300 Private Council Formed to Expand Electricity Access Across Africa

The World Bank Group, African Development Bank, and The Rockefeller Foundation have launched the Mission 300 Private Sector Council to accelerate electricity access across Africa. The council seeks to engage private sector leaders in funding, infrastructure development, and job creation to connect 300 million people to electricity by 2030.

Co-chaired by Makhtar Diop of the International Finance Corporation and Ray Chambers of the MCJ Foundation, the council brings together 14 senior leaders from diverse sectors to drive strategies that attract capital and scale finance platforms. The initiative aims to turn Mission 300’s ambitions into practical, bankable projects that improve energy access while creating economic opportunities.

Mission 300, launched in 2024, has already connected 44 million people to electricity. Thirty countries have signed energy compacts to expand infrastructure, integrate regional power grids, embrace renewables, and attract private investment. Half of the future electricity connections are expected to come from off-grid solutions, highlighting the importance of private sector engagement.

IFC and MIGA, members of the World Bank Group, have pledged $5 billion to support private sector investment under the initiative. The Rockefeller Foundation’s RF Catalytic Capital will host the council’s secretariat, which is scheduled to meet quarterly.

“The launch of the Mission 300 Private Sector Council is a critical step towards unlocking the scale and speed of private investment that Africa needs to achieve the goal of Mission 300. Considering that about 50% of energy compact investments will be drawn from the private sector, bringing captains of the private sector into Mission 300 will strengthen the link between policy reform, catalytic finance, and bankable projects—thereby accelerating delivery, supporting local industry, and creating jobs across the continent,” said Dr. Kevin Kariuki, Vice President, Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth, African Development Bank Group.

Private sector participants include Airtel Africa, Delta40, DLO Energy Resources, Elsewedy Electric, EQT Corporation, GOGLA, Meridiam, Sahara Power Group, Scatec, Husk Power Systems, Total Energies, the MCJ Amelior Foundation, Standard Bank, and Zhero.

The Rockefeller Foundation’s public charity, RF Catalytic Capital (RFCC), will host the secretariat for the council, which will meet quarterly.

"Half of Mission 300 electricity connections are going to come from off-grid solutions. Private sector investment is critical to building out off-grid energy options and achieving Mission 300 goals," said Andrew Herscowitz, CEO of the Mission 300 Accelerator. "The Mission 300 Accelerator is looking forward to working with the IFC, African Development Bank, and our Private Sector Council to ensure that we can accelerate commercial investment and change lives."