More than 50 million Africans have gained access to electricity in less than three years under a World Bank-backed initiative aimed at tackling the continent’s chronic power deficit, with Tanzania, Ethiopia and Nigeria accounting for the largest share of new connections as Africa accelerates efforts to power economic growth.
But despite the rapid progress, the latest Mission 300 Progress Report underscores the scale of Africa’s energy challenge.
Nearly 600 million people across the continent still lack access to electricity, leaving Africa with the world’s largest electricity access gap and highlighting the investment still required to support industrialisation, digital transformation and economic development.
The report, which tracked electricity connections delivered through 85 World Bank-financed projects across 40 African countries, also revealed stark disparities in progress.
While a handful of countries accounted for millions of new connections, eight countries have yet to record a single electricity connection despite having approved or ongoing World Bank-supported projects.
