Communiqué -African Development Bank Annual Meetings

28 May 2025 | Sofitel Ivoire, Abidjan

Side Event: Energy4Real – How Civil Society Can Engage to Ensure Mission 300 Delivers on Energy Access in Africa
We, participants of the side event convened by the African Coalition for Sustainable Energy and Access (ACSEA), the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), and the Bank-Civil Society Coalition on Climate Change and Energy, issue this communiqué following our deliberations on how to ensure that Mission 300 delivers not just electricity connections, but meaningful and transformative energy access for Africa’s people. Through this dialogue, civil society actors, development finance institutions, private sector leaders, and technical experts discussed how to embed inclusivity, transparency, accountability, and community co-ownership into the design and implementation of Mission 300.

Reaffirming the Urgency and Opportunity
Mission 300’s ambition to connect 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 is commendable. However, without institutionalized civil society engagement, this initiative risks replicating the pitfalls of past technocratic, top-down energy access programs, missing local realities, marginalising the vulnerable, and prioritising infrastructure over impact.

We therefore reaffirm that energy access must be people-centered, rights-based, and accountable. Civil society’s role is foundational in achieving this and to ensuring that energy access becomes a driver of equity, justice, climate resilience and sustainable development.

Read more/ download: Communiqué of the Side Event