Mission 300 Fellowship

The Mission 300 Fellowship program will place young African professionals into government line ministries or in the President/Prime Minister’s office in support of Mission 300 (M300) - a World Bank Group and Africa Development Bank led effort to electrify 300 million African by 2030 that is supported by , the Rockefeller Foundation, RF Catalytic Capital, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) (the “Mission 300 Partners”).

The Mission 300 Fellowship program is inspired by the ODI Fellowship Scheme, which has demonstrated the value of embedding skilled professionals in public institutions for long-term institutional strengthening. The Mission 300 fellowship program will aim to place professionals in Mission 300 Compact Delivery and Monitoring Units (CDMUs), generally hosted by senior African government entities, including the offices of the Presidency or Prime Minister or in energy or finance ministries. Fellows will work alongside their host government colleagues and Mission 300 partners to help them achieve the goals set forth in the country’s Mission 300 National Energy Compact, providing support to the CDMU and its staff and helping design tailored, context-specific solutions to energy challenges, ensuring sustainable, long-term impact.

Mission 300 draws from the lessons of the ODI Fellowship Scheme, which has a 60-year track record of fostering mutual learning and trust between Fellows and host institutions. This model has helped overcome barriers often faced by donor-funded advisors, who may lack the deep trust and access that embedded professionals enjoy. Through this direct integration into the civil service, Mission 300 Fellows will have greater influence in shaping energy and finance policies and strategies that align with the realities of government institutions. By fostering greater political intelligence and sensitivity to the needs of the host institutions, the Mission 300 Fellowship Program aims to create a cadre of professionals dedicated to advancing Africa’s energy sector, much like the ODI Fellowship Scheme’s legacy of impactful change.

Purpose of Job

The Mission 300 Fellows will be placed in a range of roles over 24-month assignments within the newly established Compact Delivery and Monitoring Units (CDMUs), established within a high-level government entity with cross-cutting responsibilities across multiple ministries, including Energy and Finance. Fellows will contribute to a diverse set of activities, including assisting governments with coordinating efforts with other Mission 300 entities, including the World Bank, African Development Bank, the Rockefeller Foundation, RF Catalytic Capital, GEAPP and SEforALL

Fellows will support the CDMUs, including ensuring that there is proper interface with the Mission 300 Partners in reporting on progress related to the National Energy Compact and may be asked to develop and implement plans to advance reforms outlined in the Compacts, as well as plans to advance electrification projects that will advance the host country’s Mission 300 goals including working with internal teams to identify capacity gaps in reform delivery and project bottlenecks.

Fellows will also play a key role in coordinating internal stakeholder engagement across Energy and other relevant ministries (e.g. Agriculture, Water, Health, Education) inter alia to ensure clean cooking and productive use of energy is integrated into compact implementation. They will also coordinate external stakeholder engagement with the private sector, civil society, the general public, other donors and development partners. In collaboration with working groups, Fellows will additionally provide hands-on technical assistance to advance compact commitments supporting production of policy papers, briefing documents, financial models, and documentation for RFPs, and providing advice on energy-related matters.

Total compensation, net of tax, will be approximately USD 26,000 in the first year and USD 28,000 in the second year. In addition to this amount, a housing allowance will be provided, which varies based on the cost of living in the assigned country. Each Fellowship will be tailored to the specific in-country needs that are aligned to Mission 300 priorities, providing Fellows with an invaluable opportunity to gain firsthand experience addressing pressing country-needs while making meaningful contributions to the advancement of the energy sector in Africa under Mission 300.

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