AfDB’s Decade of Investments Lights Up Africa, Connecting 25 Million to Electricity
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is celebrating a decade of transformative investments that have provided electricity access to over 25 million people across Africa. As the Bank gears up for its 2025 Annual Meetings in Abidjan (May 26-30), the milestone underscores the impact of its ambitious “Light Up and Power Africa” initiative, which aims to achieve universal electrification by 2030.
Under the theme “Making Africa’s Capital Work Better for Africa’s Development,” the 2025 Annual Meetings will highlight AfDB’s commitment to strategic energy mobilization, sustainability, and economic empowerment. Between 2016 and 2024, the Bank invested $12.74 billion in energy projects, significantly reducing reliance on traditional fuels like oil lamps and straw fires.
AfDB’s investments have revolutionized energy access, enabling major projects like the Noor Ouarzazate solar complex in Morocco and Egypt’s Benban Solar Park, one of the largest solar installations globally. In 2024 alone, the Bank financed 1,019 MW of electricity generation and constructed 2,326 km of transmission lines, connecting 448,000 people to the grid.
Bank President Akinwumi Adesina remains resolute: “Africa has abundant energy resources—solar, hydro, and wind. We must harness these to power our continent and drive economic transformation.”
The Desert to Power initiative exemplifies this vision, aiming to generate 10 GW of solar power by 2030 and provide electricity to 250 million people across 11 Sahelian nations. Additionally, the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) has mobilized financing for renewable energy projects, ensuring Africa’s transition to cleaner and more sustainable power sources.
Launched in January 2025 at the Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Mission 300 is a joint initiative between the AfDB and the World Bank to connect 300 million people to electricity by 2030. The AfDB has pledged 50 million connections, with 12 African nations, including Nigeria, Senegal, and Tanzania, committing to bold energy sector reforms.
Beyond electrification, the Bank has also committed $200 million annually to support clean cooking solutions, addressing a critical public health crisis. With 600,000 lives lost annually due to biomass and charcoal pollution, initiatives backed by SEFA are making a tangible difference in saving lives, particularly among women and children.
As the AfDB’s Annual Meetings approach, the focus remains on mobilizing Africa’s financial, natural, and human capital to accelerate progress. Strategic energy investments will not only illuminate homes but also power industries, boost agricultural productivity, and foster economic resilience.
