As the African Development Bank gathers for its 2026 Annual Meetings under the theme “Mobilising Africa’s Development Financing at Scale in a Fragmented World,” Mission 300 (M300) has become one of the continent’s biggest opportunities to expand energy access-and one of its biggest tests.

More than USD 50 billion has already been pledged, yet over 600 million Africans still live without electricity, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa, while 2.1 billion people still lack access to clean cooking solutions. The real measure of success will not be the amount of money announced, but whether these investments truly reach underserved communities and improve lives.

Civil society organizations across Africa are stepping forward not as critics, but as partners. They bring local knowledge, community trust, and on-the-ground experience that large institutions alone cannot provide. Their role is essential in helping ensure Mission 300 delivers fair, accountable, and people-centered energy access for those who need it most.

Read the full Position Statement here: SECURING THE MISSION 300 DIVIDEND A Civil Society Framework for Accountable, Inclusive Energy Finance