By: Mohamed Sahr
The Government of Sierra Leone through the dynamic leadership of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has reached a significant milestone, as the country is set to be included in the second cohort of beneficiaries of the Mission 300 initiative in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Tuesday 28 January 2025.
This groundbreaking programme, spearheaded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank Group (WBG), and global partners, aims to electrify 300 million people across Africa by 2030.
During the inaugural Africa Heads of State Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, President Bio joined several heads of state and government, global leaders, private sector, and development partners to chart Africa’s course toward universal access to energy. The Summit secured USD 48 billion from the African Development Bank and the World Bank plus an additional USD 5 billion in new funding pledges, bringing the total for Mission 300 to over $50 billion over six years.
As a member of the second cohort of Mission 300 countries, Sierra Leone has officially endorsed the Dar es Salaam Energy Compact Declaration, reaffirming its commitment to define country-specific targets and timelines. This commitment aligns with Sierra Leone’s National Development Plan and the global ambition to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 ensuring affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for all.
In the first cohort, 12 countries presented their National Energy Compacts: Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia. The Government is pleased to note that Raj Shah, President of the Rockefeller Foundation, has pledged to assist Sierra Leone in developing its National Energy Compact.
Sierra Leone’s qualification was based on the country’s remarkable progress in transforming the energy sector under the leadership of President Bio. This progress has been underpinned by Sierra Leone’s Just Energy Transition and Green Growth Plan, Government’s ambitious target to deploy 200 mini-grids as part of Rural Electrification Drive and the comprehensive energy sector reforms.
Sierra Leone stands ready to harness the opportunities presented by Mission 300 to deliver transformative energy solutions for its citizens and contribute to Africa’s prosperity.
The Mission 300 program seeks to promote collaboration between African nations, encouraging knowledge sharing and best practices in various sectors.
President Bio highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in tackling common challenges that hinder progress across the continent.
The second cohort of Mission 300 beneficiaries, including Sierra Leone, will work closely with the AFDB to outline specific projects and initiatives that align with the funding objectives.
As part of this collaboration, Sierra Leone will develop a comprehensive plan to utilize the expected funds effectively, ensuring that the benefits reach the most vulnerable populations.
With the backing of Mission 300, Sierra Leone is poised to make significant strides towards a more sustainable future.
The government remains optimistic that this partnership will not only enhance the country’s development landscape but also contribute to the broader goals of economic stability and social equity across Africa.
