Partnership for a Green Transition and Energy Access: Strategic priorities for Africa and Europe

The document argues for a comprehensive AU-EU partnership that integrates the green transition with Africa's broader developmental goals, such as industrialisation and employment. It highlights the critical gap in energy access—with 600 million Africans lacking electricity as of 2018—and the underutilisation of Africa's solar resources. The authors recommend using public finance to de-risk private investment in renewables and addressing 'nexus issues' linking energy to agriculture, the digital economy, and trade. It also notes the tension in countries like Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, and Mozambique, which are pursuing renewable energy while continuing to develop fossil fuel reserves.

• Energy access in Africa is significantly lower than in comparable regions, with approximately 600 million people lacking electricity by 2018, representing nearly half of the continent's population.
• Despite possessing the world's richest solar resources, Africa's share of global installed solar energy capacity is less than 1%.
• Investment in Africa's energy sector remains low relative to global levels; in 2018, the continent received only 5.5% of global energy sector investment, with $70 billion going to fossil fuels and $13 billion each to renewable energy and electricity networks.
• Lack of access to clean cooking affects over 70% of Africans, leading to 500,000 premature deaths annually due to household air pollution and contributing to deforestation.
• To attract private sector investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency, there is a need for public finances and external partner support to provide guarantees, insurance, and other de-risking mechanisms.
• A successful green transition requires addressing 'nexus issues' where energy access intersects with other sectors, specifically agriculture, the digital economy, and trade.
• Several African nations are pursuing contradictory energy paths by developing renewable energy while simultaneously exploiting fossil fuel reserves; examples include Kenya (wind and oil), South Africa (renewables and coal/offshore oil and gas), and Uganda, Tanzania, and Mozambique (fossil fuel reserves).
• Securing political support for the green transition depends on prioritising employment creation, reskilling, and skills development within a 'just transition' framework, with a central focus on gender mainstreaming.

APA

BENKENSTEIN, A., & CHEVALLIER, R. (2020). Partnership for a Green Transition and Energy Access: Strategic priorities for Africa and Europe. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Policy-Briefing-220-benkenstein-chevallier.pdf

Chicago

BENKENSTEIN, ALEX, and ROMY CHEVALLIER. Partnership for a Green Transition and Energy Access: Strategic priorities for Africa and Europe. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2020. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Policy-Briefing-220-benkenstein-chevallier.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=BENKENSTEIN |first1=ALEX |last2=CHEVALLIER |first2=ROMY |title=Partnership for a Green Transition and Energy Access: Strategic priorities for Africa and Europe |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=September 2020 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Policy-Briefing-220-benkenstein-chevallier.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{benkenstein2020partnership, author = {BENKENSTEIN, ALEX and CHEVALLIER, ROMY}, title = {{Partnership for a Green Transition and Energy Access: Strategic priorities for Africa and Europe}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2020}, month = sep, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Policy-Briefing-220-benkenstein-chevallier.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }