Energy poverty and the green transition in Sub-Saharan Africa : a qualitative analysis of Africa-EU cooperation on SDG7

Abstract

This research looks at Africa-EU cooperation on SGD7 in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It analyzes their history and evolution, exploring the reasons why they have not achieved their maximum potential. It finds that their full success has been hindered by five main factors. First, Africa-EU intervention has focused on small-scale residential access to energy, rather than on large-scale energy infrastructure. Secondly, wrong and not ambitious indicators have been used to define energy poverty. Third, the EU has avoided addressing the bad governance problem in SSA. Fourth, the green transition has been initially framed as a climate policy rather than as an economic opportunity. Fifth, the African Union was not the right interlocutor for the relations with the EU. To conclude, this research has issued recommendations to the EU, discussed the main challenges to achieving SDG7 in SSA, and explained the strong interests that both actors have in this partnership.