2026 Perspectives for the Public Sector

Eugene Amusin Head of Strategy and Global Solutions Social Finance Mwende Muvea Sub-Sahara Africa Lead Social Finance Energy Access in Africa Mission 300 and the light at the end of the tunnel S ilver bullets are hard to come by in development, but energy access may be as close as it gets. Access to energy stands as a fundamental pillar of development and an indispensable catalyst for growth. The benefits of expanding access to electricity are far-reaching and include improved education, healthcare, security, and economic growth. Yet, a staggering 675 million people worldwide still lack access to electricity, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for nearly 90% of this deficit. Recognizing this critical need, The World Bank and African Development Bank joined forces to create Mission 300. This ambitious initiative aims to expand electricity access to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 across solar home systems, mini grids, and utility-scale solutions. The continent boasts abundant sources of renewable energy, including geothermal and hydropower, which power a number of national electricity grids. However, these grids often fall short, leaving many communities outside of major urban centers with unreliable access to electricity or none at all. Consequently, expensive, unsustainable, and potentially harmful alternatives like kerosene lamps and diesel generators fill this void. The increasing cost of diesel in Nigeria, for instance, has threatened economic livelihoods, while the dangers of kerosene lamps to health and safety are well documented. Moreover, even if incremental power generation were feasible, extending grid infrastructure to rural communities in Sub-Sahara Africa remains economically prohibitive due to the continent’s population density. Fortunately, solar solutions are becoming economically compelling. The cost of solar panels has decreased by nearly 90% over the last decade, and battery storage costs are also on a downward trajectory. This makes off-grid energy solutions a viable and necessary path forward to complement the national grid. Jorge Rubio Global Head of Social Finance Citi Perspectives for the Public Sector 25