Building Africa's Renewable Energy Future: Recommendations for a Just Transition

The document analyses the scope and direction of energy transition policies in 34 African countries, evaluating them against dimensions of energy justice. It finds a general shift toward market-oriented regimes using auction instruments and feed-in tariffs, but warns that an overemphasis on bankability can sideline development goals. The brief identifies several 'good practice' countries and recommends that AU-EU cooperation integrate energy justice criteria, support regional partners, and facilitate policy learning from African successes.

• A comparative analysis of 34 African countries reveals a strategic shift toward market-oriented transition regimes. These regimes typically focus on unbundling monopolies, increasing transparency, and encouraging competition among independent power producers through the use of feed-in tariffs, de-risking, and auction instruments to attract private sector investment.
• Several African nations have implemented comprehensive policy frameworks that successfully address the distributive and recognitional dimensions of energy justice. Egypt, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda are cited as examples where strong domestic ownership and stakeholder arrangements have supported these goals.
• There is a significant lack of evidence regarding policies that promote 'procedural justice', which involves participation and the democratising potential of energy transitions. South Africa is noted as a rare exception due to its use of public consultation processes before projects are implemented.
• Some countries rely too heavily on market forces, which risks undermining universal energy access. In Algeria and Morocco, for instance, policymakers rely on 'trickle-down effects' and market expansion without addressing justice-related issues.
• Certain states are hindered in their green transition by single-issue policies or strong path dependencies. Specifically, Nigeria and Angola are affected by path dependencies, while Botswana and Togo are limited by single-issue policies.
• The document warns that prioritizing the bankability of renewable energy projects and attracting foreign direct investment may sideline development policy norms and domestic socio-economic development.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2020). Building Africa's Renewable Energy Future: Recommendations for a Just Transition. https://saiia.org.za/research/building-africas-renewable-energy-future-recommendations-for-a-just-transition/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Building Africa's Renewable Energy Future: Recommendations for a Just Transition. 2020. https://saiia.org.za/research/building-africas-renewable-energy-future-recommendations-for-a-just-transition/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Building Africa's Renewable Energy Future: Recommendations for a Just Transition |date=30 September 2020 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/building-africas-renewable-energy-future-recommendations-for-a-just-transition/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2020building, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Building Africa's Renewable Energy Future: Recommendations for a Just Transition}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2020}, month = sep, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/building-africas-renewable-energy-future-recommendations-for-a-just-transition/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }