New York — Ethiopia has been formally admitted to the second cohort of Mission 300, a landmark initiative aimed at providing electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030. The announcement was made during a ceremony held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, attended by President Taye Atske-Selassie.
Mission 300, spearheaded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank Group (WBG), and other global partners, seeks to mobilize $50 billion in financing to close Africa’s energy gap. Ethiopia’s inclusion recognizes its ongoing energy reforms and ambitious agenda to harness renewable resources and expand power access.
The country applied for admission earlier this year at the Mission 300 Energy Summit in Tanzania, pledging to develop a National Compact strategy with clear implementation timelines. Its entry into the initiative is expected to unlock new opportunities for international finance, technical support, and investment in large-scale energy projects.
Officials said Ethiopia’s participation will accelerate the development of renewable energy infrastructure, strengthen regional power interconnections, and advance the government’s commitment to ensuring universal energy access. With vast untapped hydropower, solar, and wind potential, the country is positioned to become a key contributor to Africa’s clean energy transition.
“This milestone not only strengthens Ethiopia’s role in Africa’s energy transformation,” the statement noted, “but also advances the continent’s collective momentum toward ending energy poverty and fostering sustainable development.”
Mission 300 has been hailed as one of the most ambitious energy access programs on the continent, reflecting a broader push to integrate climate goals with economic growth. Ethiopia’s admission marks a significant step in aligning national energy priorities with Africa’s shared vision of sustainable, inclusive development.