A Path Across the Rift: Informing African Energy Transitions by Unearthing Critical Questions and Data Needs

The document argues that energy transition planning in Africa is hindered by polarized debates, a gap between science and policy, and the use of simplistic myths about the continent's resources. It calls for a shift toward granular, country-specific evidence to inform decisions on energy systems and the role of fossil fuels.

• Sub-Saharan Africa is characterized by the fastest-growing energy demand and the lowest access to reliable, clean, and affordable energy, presenting a significant opportunity for economic and social improvement.
• Current analysis of African energy transitions often fails to influence decision-making because of a lack of contextualization, a disconnect between science and policy, and a lack of ownership for implementation.
• The discourse on energy transitions in Africa has become polarized among local and international stakeholders, which has restricted the ability to have fact-based discussions on critical issues like the role of fossil fuels.
• Effective energy planning requires replacing myths of a uniform continent and simplistic views of natural resources with country-specific plans based on granular evidence regarding infrastructure, policy, and finance.

APA

World Resources Institute (2023). A Path Across the Rift: Informing African Energy Transitions by Unearthing Critical Questions and Data Needs. https://www.wri.org/research/path-rift-informing-african-energy-transitions-unearthing-critical-questions

Chicago

World Resources Institute. A Path Across the Rift: Informing African Energy Transitions by Unearthing Critical Questions and Data Needs. 2023. https://www.wri.org/research/path-rift-informing-african-energy-transitions-unearthing-critical-questions.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=A Path Across the Rift: Informing African Energy Transitions by Unearthing Critical Questions and Data Needs |date=18 October 2023 |url=https://www.wri.org/research/path-rift-informing-african-energy-transitions-unearthing-critical-questions |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute2023path, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{A Path Across the Rift: Informing African Energy Transitions by Unearthing Critical Questions and Data Needs}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2023}, month = oct, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/path-rift-informing-african-energy-transitions-unearthing-critical-questions}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }