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Sierra Leone has been selected as a beneficiary of the Mission 300 initiative, a $50 billion program aimed at electrifying 300 million Africans by 2030.
The announcement was made following President Julius Maada Bio’s participation in the inaugural Africa Heads of State Energy Summit held in Dar es Salaam.
The initiative, spearheaded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), World Bank Group (WBG), and other global partners, seeks to accelerate universal energy access across the continent. Sierra Leone’s inclusion in the second cohort of Mission 300 underscores its progress in energy sector reforms and its commitment to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7: affordable and sustainable energy for all.
At the summit, President Bio endorsed the Dar es Salaam Energy Compact Declaration, pledging Sierra Leone’s alignment with the initiative’s objectives and timelines. This commitment is supported by the country’s Just Energy Transition and Green Growth Plan and an ambitious drive to deploy 200 mini-grids as part of its Rural Electrification Program.
The summit secured $48 billion from the AfDB and the World Bank, with an additional $5 billion in new funding pledges from partners, bringing the total financing for Mission 300 to $50 billion over six years. Sierra Leone will benefit from technical and financial assistance to develop its National Energy Compact in collaboration with the Rockefeller Foundation.
Sierra Leone’s qualification reflects significant advancements in its energy transformation under President Bio’s leadership. These include comprehensive sector reforms, a strong focus on renewable energy, and policies aimed at improving access to electricity in rural communities.
The initiative positions Sierra Leone as a leader in green energy solutions, enhancing its potential to drive sustainable development and economic growth while addressing energy poverty.
