The African Development Bank has approved a new $3.9 million technical assistance programme aimed at helping African governments convert national energy commitments into actual electricity connections for households, businesses and public institutions across the continent.
The two-year project, known as AESTAP Mission 300 Phase II, is designed to support the implementation of National Energy Compacts under Mission 300, a joint AfDB–World Bank initiative that targets electricity access for 300 million Africans by 2030.
While dozens of African countries have announced Energy Compacts over the past year, many backed by strong political endorsements and development partner pledges, progress has often stalled at the policy stage. The new AfDB support is intended to bridge that gap by strengthening the institutional, regulatory and technical foundations required to translate plans into live power connections.
Read also: IMF Outlook: Africa’s growth to hit 4.6% in 2026 despite rising climate and debt risks
Under Phase II, 13 Mission 300 countries; Chad, Gabon, Tanzania, Mauritania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Malawi, Lesotho, Namibia and Uganda, will receive direct technical assistance over the next 24 months. The focus will be on improving electricity planning frameworks, reforming tariff systems, strengthening regulation, and boosting the operational performance of power utilities.
In many African markets, weak utilities, high system losses and unclear regulatory environments continue to deter private investment, even where demand for electricity is rising rapidly. AfDB officials say the programme will help governments address these bottlenecks by aligning policy reforms with investment readiness, improving data quality and strengthening institutional coordination.
A key element of the project involves embedding expert advisers within national Compact Delivery and Monitoring Units. These units are responsible for coordinating reforms across ministries, regulators and utilities, while also tracking progress against national targets. By reinforcing these delivery structures, the AfDB aims to accelerate implementation timelines and improve accountability.
Wale Shonibare, AfDB Director of Energy Financial Solutions, Policy and Regulation, said African countries had already made “bold commitments” through their Energy Compacts, but emphasised that delivery was now the priority. The second phase of the programme, he noted, is designed to ensure those commitments result in tangible outcomes for communities and enterprises that still operate without reliable power.
The approval of Phase II builds on AESTAP Mission 300 Phase I, which was endorsed in December 2025 and allocated about $1 million to help countries establish and operationalise their delivery and monitoring units. That first phase focused largely on training staff, setting up monitoring systems and preparing implementation plans. Phase II deepens the engagement by tackling regulatory reforms, utility performance and investment-enabling conditions.
The AfDB said the project will be implemented in close coordination with Mission 300 partners, national governments and development organisations to avoid duplication and ensure reforms are aligned across countries.
Electricity access remains one of Africa’s most persistent development challenges. More than 600 million people across the continent still lack reliable power, constraining industrial growth, limiting service delivery in health and education, and raising the cost of doing business. By shifting attention from commitments to execution, the AfDB hopes the new programme will help turn Africa’s energy ambitions into measurable gains on the ground.
Engage with us on LinkedIn: Africa Sustainability Matters
