Q&A: How can African electricity access power jobs not just lightbulbs?

African leaders and development experts are emphasizing the need for electricity access in Africa to extend beyond basic household lighting and instead drive economic growth and job creation. At the African Development Bank (AfDB) annual meetings, several heads of state, including Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera and Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso, highlighted the critical role of reliable power in advancing agriculture, livestock rearing, and broader economic development. The AfDB’s Mission 300 initiative, which aims to provide electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030, is central to these efforts. The focus is shifting from merely connecting homes to ensuring that electrification fosters productive uses of energy that can transform communities and livelihoods. To support this transition, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) is developing a Centre of Excellence for Productive Use of Energy under Mission 300. Carol Koech, GEAPP’s vice president for Africa, explained that the centre will promote strategies and technologies that enable electricity to power income-generating activities, agricultural productivity, and local economic development. This approach aims to maximize the socio-economic benefits of electrification by creating jobs and sustainable economic opportunities. This evolving strategy reflects a broader recognition that access to electricity is a foundational element for achieving development goals across the continent. By powering productive sectors, African countries can stimulate growth, reduce poverty, and improve living standards. The integration of energy access with economic empowerment initiatives is seen as essential for unlocking Africa’s development potential and ensuring that investments in infrastructure translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives.