Africa’s energy transition represents one of the continent’s greatest opportunities for economic transformation, industrial development, and climate resilience. Yet turning ambition into implementation remains one of the defining challenges facing governments, investors, and development partners alike.
During London Climate Action Week, the African Climate Foundation (ACF) convened its partners from Ethiopia, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa for a country exchange exploring what it actually takes to deliver a just and inclusive energy transition across Africa.
Bringing together policymakers, practitioners, investors, and philanthropic partners, the discussion examined how countries are navigating the complex task of mobilising finance, building institutions, developing investable projects, and ensuring that communities benefit from the transition.
A central theme throughout the discussion was that Africa’s energy transition must be viewed as more than an energy challenge. As Lamine Cisse, ACF’s Country Manager for Senegal, noted, the key question is: “How can we connect it directly to economic transformation?” The transition, speakers agreed, must create jobs, strengthen industries, and unlock long-term economic opportunities alongside climate and energy outcomes.
Participants also reflected on the importance of building the institutions and systems needed to translate ambition into delivery. Speaking from the Nigerian context, Chibukam Kenechukwu of the Africa Policy Research Institute observed that while progress has been made, countries are often “over-planned, but under-institutionalised.” His remarks highlighted the need for stronger implementation capacity, policy coordination, and institutional support to move projects from concept to execution.
The conversation underscored the catalytic role that philanthropy can play in bridging these gaps. Sharing lessons from Konexa‘s work in Nigeria, Pradeep Pursnani reflected on the value of flexible, early-stage support, noting that “a few hundred thousand dollars of grant support at the right time, with flexibility, can unlock tens of millions of dollars of institutional capital.” Across the discussion, participants pointed to examples where philanthropic funding had helped prepare projects, strengthen institutions, de-risk investments, and unlock larger flows of public and private finance.
The importance of ensuring that the transition delivers meaningful benefits for communities was another recurring theme. Reflecting on South Africa’s just transition journey, Sekoetlane Phamodi of the New Economy Hub, an ACF-incubated initiative, emphasised that “a transition that communities cannot see, or name, or even influence in a deep and meaningful way will not hold politically, and will certainly not hold socially.” Their comments reinforced the need for inclusive approaches that place people and communities at the centre of climate and energy planning.
Whether discussing renewable energy investment in Senegal, climate finance platforms in Ethiopia, innovative financing models in Nigeria, or local delivery mechanisms in South Africa, a common message emerged: delivering Africa’s energy transition requires more than capital alone. It requires strong institutions, local ownership, coordinated partnerships, and investment approaches that translate national ambitions into tangible development outcomes.
As countries continue to chart their own pathways, the exchange demonstrated the value of learning across borders, sharing practical experiences, and building partnerships that accelerate delivery at scale.
