DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – African leaders and global financial institutions have launched a landmark $40 billion Africa Energy Fund to fast-track investments in renewable energy and bridge the continent’s persistent financing gap. 

Reliance on dirty cooking fuels such as firewood and charcoal causes an estimated 600,000 premature deaths annually across Africa.

The World Bank has pledged $22 billion to support the fund, while the African Development Bank (AfDB) has committed $18.2 billion. Other contributions included $2.65 billion from the Islamic Development Bank and $1 billion from the OPEC Fund.

The initiative, announced at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam last week, is expected to expand sustainable electricity access and stimulate economic growth, particularly in underserved regions. 

The summit, attended by 30 African Heads of State, also adopted the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration which commits the continent to achieving universal energy access by 2030, prioritizing renewable energy projects, energy efficiency, and rural electrification.

“This declaration represents a turning point for Africa’s energy future,” said Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan. “We are committed to delivering affordable, reliable electricity to transform lives and economies across the continent.”

The Dar es Salaam Declaration also lays out strategies to lower electricity costs, reduce dependence on firewood, and boost clean energy production—offering hope for a brighter and healthier future for millions across Africa.

Deadly toll of indoor air pollution

Some 83% of the world’s energy-deprived population live in sub-Saharan Africa. Rashid Abdallah, Executive Director of the African Energy Commission (AFREC), told the summit that 600 million Africans live without access to electricity, but one billion were without access to clean cooking, relying on biomass fuels such as wood and charcoal, with severe economic, social and environmental impact.

In rural and low-income urban households, inefficient wood-burning stoves and open fires release toxic pollutants, including fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and benzene. These pollutants have been linked to respiratory infections, chronic lung diseases, and cardiovascular conditions, particularly affecting women and children who spend extended hours near cooking areas. 

Reliance on wood and charcoal also contributes to deforestation.

AfDB President Akinwunmi Adesina has said that approximately 600,000 women and children die annually in Africa due to lack of access to clean cooking.

Speaking at the summit alongside representatives of the Rockefeller Foundation and the World Bank, Adesina explained that lack of access to clean cooking sources claims the lives of 300,000 children and 300,000 women annually.

He explained that the deaths are caused by the effect of smoke from the use of firewood or charcoal for cooking rather than clean cooking sources.

“Today we have 1.2 billion women in Africa without access to clean cooking and we lose 300,000 kids every single year that their mothers carry on their backs because of lack of access to clean food because of the secondary effect of smoke. We lose 300,000 women also every year,” he said.

“Why should anybody have to die just for trying to cook a decent meal that is taken for granted in other parts of the world? That is not acceptable! In good conscience, we just can’t do that. And that’s why a big part of what we’re trying to do is to make sure that women in Africa can cook decently without having to have smoke; without their kids having to die because of that.” 

Invisible killer

“Indoor air pollution is an invisible killer in many African homes,” said Wale Shonibare, AfDB Director of Energy Financial Solutions. “Addressing energy poverty is crucial not just for development but also for public health.”

Studies show that household air pollution levels in biomass-dependent homes often exceed World Health Organization (WHO) safety guidelines by up to 100 times. 

Women who cook over unvented wood stoves face an increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, while children are more susceptible to pneumonia—a leading cause of child mortality.

Despite the dangers, the transition to cleaner cooking fuels remains slow due to economic constraints and limited infrastructure.

“We know that liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and biogas offer cleaner alternatives, but for many families, these fuels are either unavailable or too expensive,” said Jenister Mhagama, Tanzania’s Health Minister.

Health facilities lack reliable energy

About half of the health centres in sub-Saharan Africa also lack reliable electricity, according to WHO data. This shortage disrupts essential services such as emergency care, maternal health services, and vaccine refrigeration.

“In many rural clinics, we rely on solar lanterns during surgeries. This is very inconvenient and extremely dangerous,” said Patrick Bulikunda, Acting Chief Medical Officer at Kitete Regional Referral Hospital in western Tanzania. 

“Without consistent power, our clinics cannot function optimally. Energy is as vital to healthcare as any medicine.”

A WHO database on the electrification of healthcare facilities highlights stark disparities in energy access. Rural health centres suffer the most, with frequent outages compromising critical medical services. Even facilities that have electricity often face unreliable power supplies, forcing staff to ration essential medical procedures.

Accelerating investment

The Africa Energy Fund is set to accelerate investments in renewable energy, including solar, wind, hydropower, and off-grid solutions.

“Access to energy is a cornerstone of economic development and human dignity,” said Tanzania’s President Hassan in her keynote address. “Africa cannot afford to leave its people in the dark any longer.”

The financing will help countries scale up affordable, clean energy while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Countries that want to access the fund are expected to take steps to attract private investment and commit to using the lowest-cost electricity, mostly renewables. 

 “We cannot depend on outdated solutions for modern challenges. Africa must innovate to lead the energy revolution,” said Kenya’s Energy Minister Apiyo Wandayi.

However, Adesina said that funding of about $4 billion is required yearly to ensure that every African has access to clean cooking. The AfDB has committed $2 billion to this course.

Adesina also noted that several countries including Tanzania, Nigeria and Ghana have pledged to “100% access to clean cooking solutions by 2030.”

“It is about lives. A lot of time we talk about energy transition, but it is not just about energy transition. Already for women in Africa, they are transitioning life just to be able to cook. It is more about dignity as far as I am concerned. Africa must develop with dignity, with pride. Its women must have access to clean cooking solutions.”

Addressing climate challenges and energy inequality

The Africa Energy Fund will also tackle climate change, reducing Africa’s dependence on polluting energy sources. Coal, oil and traditional biomass account for over 70% of Africa’s total energy mix, according to AfDB data.

Twelve countries – including Tanzania, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, and Malawi – presented National Energy Compacts at the summit, outlining their strategies to scale up clean energy. These plans focus on grid expansion, mini-grids, and innovative financing mechanisms to ensure affordability for consumers.

Tanzania leads regional clean cooking efforts with its National Clean Cooking Strategy. It aims to transition 80% of its population to clean cooking technologies by 2034. The country currently loses 400,000 hectares of forest annually to charcoal and firewood use.

The country is also committed to increasing electricity access from 35% to 75% by 2030, with a strong emphasis on rural electrification and investments in solar and wind power.

Private sector innovations include M-Gas’s pay-as-you-cook LPG model, which has reached 500,000 households in Kenya and Tanzania. “With 35 cents they can cook three meals in a day,” said M-Gas CEO, Martin Kimani.

However, affordability remains a major hurdle. 

“Many rural households simply cannot afford to switch to cleaner energy sources without financial support,” said Professor Kwame Mensah from Accra University in Ghana. “Governments must step in with subsidies, while private investors should help scale up production to lower costs.”

Dotto Biteko, Tanzania’s Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister, stressed the importance of private sector engagement in expanding mini-grids and off-grid solutions for rural areas. “The private sector must play a pivotal role in this transformation,” he said.

“This is Africa’s moment to shine—literally and figuratively. We must rise to the occasion,” said Biteko.

Image Credits: Mission 300 Summit, Mission 300, Mission 300 summit.