Lighting Up Africa: The Transformative Power of Mission 300

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Achieving global reach for refugee entrepreneurs: A Dadaab story One of the organizations that ITC works with in Dadaab is Nyota Farsamo Artisanal Collective, a Somali-Kenyan artisan collective which helps women refugees to start and build their businesses GENEVA, Switzerland, January 29, 2025/ -- In Kenya’s Garissa County, the Dadaab refugee complex has long hosted refugees from other countries in the region, particularly from Somalia but also from Ethiopia, South Sudan, and several others. In place for over three decades, the complex now has three main camps in operation. Some people have spent their entire lives in the Dadaab complex. For the people living in Dadaab, finding sources of income can be particularly challenging. Refugees, for instance, may run into difficulties accessing consistent electricity or internet sources in their camps, or may lack identification cards that employers, including freelancer websites, may require. That is why the International Trade Centre (ITC) has had an active presence in the area for several years, including under its Refugees Empowerment Through Markets Initiative (REMI). This project involves refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returning migrants, local communities, and their businesses. It is also informed by ITC’s extensive research on what it means to support small businesses in fragile and conflict-affected settings. One of the organizations that ITC works with in Dadaab is Nyota Farsamo Artisanal Collective, a Somali-Kenyan artisan collective which helps women refugees to start and build their businesses. They focus on handicrafts and provide women with support to strengthen their entrepreneurship skills. They are also responsible for creating a network among these women-led businesses. ITC has worked with Nyota Farsamo over several years, even before the launch of REMI, thanks to the support of the European Union under projects such as the Area Based Livelihoods Initiative–Garissa (ABLI-G), and also via other multi-funder projects such as the Refugee Employment and Skills Initiative (RESI), supported by Japan, the EU, the Norwegian Refugee Council and the Danish Refugee Council. One of the recent milestones for Nyota Farsamo came in 2023, when they began a collaboration that will allow them to join the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) MADE51 initiative in 2024. That initiative now spans 23 countries and counting. ‘By now Dadaab has second, even third generations of displaced persons, and it is not clear for them if there is a chance to go back,’ Athir Hajir Adbi, Nyota Farsamo’s chair, told ITC’s Trade Forum magazine. ‘Our collective also stands for support and belonging in a home away from home. With a little money in their pockets, women are empowered to leave abusive relationships, or buy basic needs such as water, food, and clothes—so the economic effect trickles down to leading a dignified life as a human being.’ Being part of MADE51 means accessing social enterprise partners from across world regions, along with opportunities for seed funding and other resources. It also means that artisans can access new buyers for their products, drawing on the strong reputation that the initiative has built since its inception. The Nyota Farsamo collective is now looking to build on this success to set up market outlets in Dadaab, Garissa, and Nairobi. Nyota Farsamo is one of many such stories of collectives that ITC and its partners are working with, and as ITC works in more fragile and conflict-affected settings, it is engaging closely with partners in the humanitarian and development space to ensure that every intervention is tailored to a given situation’s nuances. That includes, as the situation requires, undertaking conflict-sensitivity assessments and other analyses. ITC is currently developing guidelines for these assessments. ITC has also made pledges under the Global Refugee Compact in both 2019 and 2023, outlining its plans for scaling up its work, and co-hosted a Global Refugee Forum-linked event in December 2023. The most recent pledges feature a commitment to continue taking a partnership-driven approach, connecting the private sector and humanitarian initiatives, to tackle challenges refugees face when participating in the local and global economy. Over time, these efforts will not just change the economic possibilities for refugees themselves, but also change the wider business and policy ecosystem accordingly.
By Kevin Kariuki
Mission 300 will invest in new and rehabilitation of generation capacity, transmission systems, including intra- and regional interconnections, as well as distribution grids to build robust and reliable power systems

Across Africa, nearly 600 million people live in energy poverty, deprived of reliable access to electricity—a fundamental prerequisite for modern life. This staggering statistic represents more than just a lack of power.  Significantly, it translates to limited opportunities for education, healthcare, gender equality, and economic growth. Mission 300, a bold initiative championed by the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank Group in collaboration with key partners, seeks to change this narrative by providing first time electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030.  A key milestone in this effort, branded Mission 300, is the Africa Energy Summit scheduled for Dar es Salaam, 27/28 January 2025.

The Significance of Energy Access

Energy is the engine of development. Without affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity, Africa cannot achieve its developmental aspirations or secure its rightful place in the global economy. Energy access is the cornerstone of economic transformation, opening doors to education, healthcare, and income generation. Moreover, it fosters gender equality by reducing the time women spend on labour and time-intensive tasks such as cooking with traditional fuels or collecting for firewood. Mission 300’s success is therefore not just about electrification; it is about saving and empowering lives as well as communities.  It is also about reducing greenhouse gas emissions and safeguarding biodiversity.

Yet, the path ahead is daunting. At the current pace of electrification, coupled with Africa’s rapid population growth, the number of people living without access to electricity could remain largely unchanged. Action is therefore an imperative, and Mission 300 provides the roadmap to achieve universal energy access by 2030, consistent with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 7 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

The Role of Mission 300

Mission 300 will invest in new and rehabilitation of generation capacity, transmission systems, including intra- and regional interconnections, as well as distribution grids to build robust and reliable power systems.  It will be complemented by reforms in the energy sector to ensure affordability and sustainability of electricity service, and financially viable utilities while partnerships with the private sector will assist in mobilizing funding at the required speed and scale

In addition to providing electricity access from interconnected power systems, through Mission 300’s transformative vision, mini-grids, and stand-alone solar home systems will be prioritized to provide electricity to underserved regions and communities, including in fragile and remote areas where extending the interconnected grid is impracticable.  These Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) solutions are amenable to easy and speedy roll-out, cost-effective, modular, sustainable, and can ensure that no community is left behind in the Mission 300 journey.  DRE solutions are projected to account for more that 50% of new connections by 2030.

A Defining Moment: The Africa Energy Summit

The upcoming Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam will be a pivotal moment in Mission 300 journey. Hosted by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, the African Union, the African Development Bank Group, the World Bank Group, as well as the African Union, the summit will bring together over 25 Heads of State and Governments, Heads of international Organisation, including Banks, energy experts, and private sector leaders to forge a common path toward universal energy access.

The principal outcomes of the summit comprise of the adoption of the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration by the entire continent and twelve country energy compacts co-created between countries and the Mission 300 partners.  The Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration will outline commitments to reforms and actions necessary to achieve Mission 300 while twelve country energy compacts, will expound on the principles of the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration to establish tangible country specific actions and measures for accelerated electricity access such as least-cost power expansion plans, providing last-mile access through grid and distributed renewables, building financially viable energy systems, regional interconnection and promotion of private sector participation in the energy sector.  The twelve countries that will submit energy compacts account for almost half of the global population without access to electricity.

Another important outcome will be the enlisting of additional partners to the Mission 300 bus.  Several partners are expected to announce additional financial resources and technical assistance in furtherance of the Mission 300 goal. 

Why Now?

Firstly, is the unity of purpose and visionary leadership of African Development Bank Group and the World Bank Group Presidents that has led to the forging of a structured approach to definitively address the electricity deficit problem in Africa, in collaboration with other development partners.

Secondly, the continent is blessed with abundant energy resources, including renewable energy, such as 60% of the world’s best solar potential, of which only a tiny proportion has been harnessed.

Thirdly the cost of renewable energy technology, particularly wind and solar, has reduced dramatically in the recent past making electricity generation from these sources cost competitive compared to sources of conventional power.  Moreover, access to information communication technology, and digitization thereof, currently enables payment platforms that support distributed renewable energy solution.

When combined, the foregoing provides unprecedented opportunities for addressing the continent’s energy access deficit while also espousing a low-carbon growth trajectory, to support Africa’s climate goals.

A Call to Action

Mission 300 is more than an energy initiative; it is a moral imperative. It represents a collective commitment to uplift millions from poverty, foster inclusive economic growth, and create a resilient, green future. But its success hinges on robust support from all stakeholders—governments, development partners, the private sector, and civil society. Together, we must prioritize reforms, mobilize investments, and leverage partnerships to transform Africa’s energy landscape.

Let us seize this defining moment.  The Africa Energy Summit must not just a platform for discussion on energy.  It must constitute a watershed moment for energy access in Africa.   Let us therefore work to actualize Mission 300 and literally light up the lives of millions, thereby creating lasting change that will evoke enormous pride on future generations.

In conclusion, “the road ahead may be challenging, but it is also filled with opportunity.  With determination, innovation, and collaboration, we can achieve universal energy access in Africa.  This is our moment to make history.”

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