The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $3.9 million, two-year technical assistance project to support Nigeria and 12 other African countries in implementing their national energy compacts under the Mission 300 initiative, aimed at expanding electricity access across the continent by 2030.
The approval was granted by the AfDB Board of Directors and disclosed in a statement published on the bank’s website on Friday.
The project is designed to help participating countries translate energy policy commitments into concrete electricity connections for households, businesses, and public institutions, addressing one of the key bottlenecks in Africa’s power sector — the gap between planning and actual delivery.
The initiative comes as African governments intensify efforts to close the continent’s electricity access deficit, which continues to limit economic growth, industrialisation, and social development.
According to the AfDB, the project will provide hands-on technical assistance to help countries move from high-level policy frameworks to practical implementation of reforms and connection programmes.
Wale Shonibare, Director of Energy Financial Solutions, Policy and Regulation at the AfDB, said countries have made “bold commitments” through their Energy Compacts, and the new phase of support is focused on turning those commitments into tangible results.
He noted that the emphasis is on ensuring that households, entrepreneurs, and communities actually gain access to reliable electricity, rather than remaining at the level of policy pledges. He added that the project will help governments implement reforms faster and accelerate electricity connections.
Mission 300 was launched in January 2025 by the World Bank and the African Development Bank with the goal of providing electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030.
As part of the initiative, participating countries developed National Energy Compacts, which outline plans to expand electricity access, strengthen power sector institutions, improve utility performance, and attract private sector investment.
While dozens of countries have launched these compacts, the AfDB said progress has been slowed by challenges in translating plans into actual infrastructure, reforms, and customer connections. The newly approved project is intended to close this implementation gap.
The project, known as AESTAP Mission 300 Phase II, will provide direct technical support to 13 Mission 300 countries over the next 24 months.
Beneficiary countries include Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Gabon, Madagascar, Malawi, Lesotho, Mauritania, and Namibia.
The AfDB said the project will support improvements in electricity regulations, planning frameworks, and tariff structures to unlock investment and strengthen the financial sustainability of power utilities.
It will also focus on reducing technical and commercial losses, improving utility performance, and enhancing data, research, and peer learning through tools such as the Electricity Regulatory Index and regional energy forums.
In addition, expert advisers will be embedded within national Compact Delivery and Monitoring Units to help governments coordinate reforms, monitor progress, and ensure accountability in implementation.
The approval of Phase II builds on AESTAP Mission 300 Phase I, which was approved by the AfDB in December 2025 with about $1 million in funding.
Phase I focused on establishing and operationalising Compact Delivery and Monitoring Units within government structures. Phase II will build on that foundation by providing deeper technical assistance to implement planned reforms and accelerate electricity access.
The AfDB said the project will be implemented in close coordination with other Mission 300 partners, including the World Bank, national governments, and development organisations, to ensure alignment and avoid duplication of efforts.
Beyond Mission 300, the AfDB has continued to scale up financial support for Nigeria and the wider region.
In November, the bank approved a $500 million loan to the Federal Government of Nigeria to finance the second phase of the Economic Governance and Energy Transition Support Programme.
The AfDB has also approved a $100 million loan to the Emerging Africa and Asia Infrastructure Fund to support sustainable infrastructure development across Africa.
Emmanuel Bassey is a Financial Expert that has worked in the Banking and Finance Industry for over 15+ years across different banks in Nigeria
