The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a US$3.9 million, two-year technical assistance programme to help accelerate electricity access across the continent by supporting concrete power sector reforms in 13 African countries.
The initiative, dubbed AESTAP Mission 300 Phase II, forms part of Mission 300, a joint AfDB–World Bank effort aimed at connecting 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.
In a statement issued by the AfDB said, the programme is designed to help countries move from policy pledges to actual delivery by supporting the implementation of National Energy Compacts.
These compacts outline country-specific plans to expand electricity access, strengthen power utilities, and attract private sector investment.
While many African countries have rolled out Energy Compacts backed by high-level political commitment and development partner support over the past year, the Bank noted that translating these plans into real electricity connections remains the biggest challenge.
Under Phase II, participating countries will receive hands-on technical support to improve electricity regulations, planning frameworks, and tariff structures, making the sector more attractive to investors.
The programme will also focus on strengthening electricity utilities to enhance reliability, cut system losses, and improve operational performance.
In addition, the project will support better data collection, research, and cross-country learning through tools such as the Electricity Regulatory Index and regional energy forums.
As part of the intervention, expert advisers will be embedded within national Compact Delivery and Monitoring Units to help governments coordinate reforms across ministries and track progress more effectively.
The beneficiary countries are Chad, Gabon, Tanzania, Mauritania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Malawi, Lesotho, Namibia, and Uganda.
According to the AfDB, the support is to help translate documented energy plans into electricity connections for homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses.
“Countries have made bold commitments through their energy compacts. Through AESTAP Mission 300 Phase II, we are helping them implement those commitments so that more households, entrepreneurs, and communities actually get electricity,” the Bank said.
The approval of Phase II follows the Bank’s endorsement of AESTAP Mission 300 Phase I in December 2025, which provided about US$1 million to help countries establish and operationalise Compact Delivery and Monitoring Units.
Phase I focused on building institutional capacity through staff training, monitoring tools, and reform planning.
The AfDB said Phase II builds on this foundation by delivering the technical assistance required to implement the planned reforms, in coordination with the World Bank, national governments, and other development partners.
