As Africa navigates the complexities of a low-carbon transition, it faces critical challenges in ensuring that energy access drives economic transformation rather than reinforcing existing inequalities. This series of advisory notes examines the intersection of climate justice, energy access, industrialization, and equitable policymaking, offering actionable insights for governments, development partners, and private sector actors.
Our first advisory note highlights how the Just Transition–originally envisioned as a pathway to renewable energy–risks being co-opted by fossil fuel interests. It calls for stronger accountability measures to prevent greenwashing, ensuring that fossil fuel companies contribute meaningfully to emissions reductions, labor protections, and reinvestment in renewable energy.
We then explore Mission 300, a landmark initiative by the World Bank and the African Development Bank to connect 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa to electricity by 2030. Our analyses outline how this effort must be more than just an electrification push–it must create jobs, drive economic growth, enable private investment, and foster policy coherence to ensure a sustainable and inclusive energy transition.
A key aspect of this discussion is Africa’s ongoing marginalization in global climate finance and governance, as seen in COP 29’s shortcomings in addressing Africa’s needs. Our advisory notes call for binding climate finance commitments from high-emitting nations, Africa-led carbon pricing mechanisms, labor-based incentives in renewable energy projects, and strengthened regional coordination to ensure economic sovereignty.
From the 2025 SEforALL Global Forum, we highlight the urgency of achieving Mission 300 using bold, innovative approaches–such as decentralized energy networks, AI-driven infrastructure, and financing models akin to Africa’s mobile revolution–to accelerate access while avoiding reliance on fossil fuels.
Our research also underscores the need for Mission 300 to prioritize equity, youth employment, and local ownership. Electrification alone is insufficient; it must be coupled with technical and vocational education (TVET), entrepreneurship support, and policies that empower communities to shape their energy future.
Finally, we emphasize that Mission 300 must be deeply integrated with Africa’s industrialization agenda. Energy access should drive manufacturing, job creation, and economic growth rather than remain a standalone goal. Our recommendations focus on aligning energy policies with industrial targets, attracting private sector investments, and leveraging AI, blockchain, and bioenergy innovations to optimize industrial energy use.
