Why does an African interpretation of energy poverty matter? A note for Sub-Saharan (SSA) energy policy actors

Abstract

While nearly 1 billion people across the globe do not have access to modern energy (electricity) in their homes, and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) accounts for 75% of this number. In SSA, there is an urgent need to deal conclusively with issues of energy poverty which have significant implications on the political, social and economic landscape. When compared with energy-rich countries, it is observable that SSA countries with underperforming energy sectors are unable to adequately power their economies toward attaining middle-class ambitions and long-term development. With these economic limitations, SSA countries are further constrained in their ability to build resilience towards health and environmental challenges. Thise discussion contextualises energy in SSA, highlights the impact of energy poverty on development, and presents policy and governance issues towards addressing energy poverty. We conclude that a myriad of issues have contributed to impeding the progress toward alleviating energy poverty in Africa. These issues include, but are not limited to, global environmental change, poor infrastructure and challenges in governance and leadership in the form of dictatorships, political unrest and corruption. We recommend the Africa-Europe Foundation engages in capacity mapping on energy development in Africa to identify strategic energy sub-sectors that can be filled with the right leadership and personnel. Additionally, policies such as the European Green Deal from the European Union should take Africa into consideration, particularly in terms of promoting investments and partnerships for renewable energy development.