Partnership to give 300 million people access to electricity by 2030

'This alliance is working to increase access to clean energy in developing countries. This is crucial if we are to prevent large-scale greenhouse gas emissions in the future and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We are therefore supporting the ambitious effort of the World Bank and the African Development Bank to provide access to electricity for 300 million people in Africa by 2030,' said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

The Prime Minister co-chairs the GEAPP Leadership Council together with Dr Rajiv J. Shah, President of the Rockefeller Foundation. GEAPP's mission is to mobilise private and public capital to support the transition to renewable energy in developing countries.

At today's GEAPP meeting, World Bank President Ajay Banga and African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina presented Mission 300, a partnership to connect 300 million people in Africa to electricity over the next six years. ­

'The aim is to reduce the number of people in Africa without access to electricity by half. This is one of the most significant development initiatives in Africa of our time. It will create a great many jobs and have positive spin-off effects in the health and education sectors,' said Mr Støre.

Norway contributes to investments in renewable energy in developing countries in multiple ways, including through close, long-term cooperation with the World Bank and African Development Bank. Norfund (the Norwegian Investment Fund for developing countries) is a major investor in renewable energy in Africa, with a portfolio of approximately NOK 7.5 billion. A new state guarantee scheme for renewable energy projects in developing countries is being established.