Shamilah Nassozi, Ciara Varley, Angharad Johnston, Charles Spillane.
Tuesday, 9th – Wednesday, 10th September 2024
LEG4DEV share latest findings on rural energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa
Access to clean, affordable energy is critical for sustainable development, yet millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa still lack this basic necessity. Despite the potential benefits of renewable energy solutions, several challenges remain, particularly for rural households in Sub-Saharan Africa. Social dynamics, gender disparities, and economic constraints pose significant barriers to widespread adoption. Achieving SDG7 targets will require policies that promote gender equality, improve economic opportunities, and leverage innovative technologies like satellite remote sensing to monitor energy access and inform targeted interventions.
FlowPhotoChem’s Africa-EU Just Energy Transition Workshop held in Kampala, Uganda, convened researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the transition to clean energy in Africa. The workshop aimed to foster the development of sustainable energy solutions that promote economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection.
Core themes emerging at the workshop included, energy access, climate-smart agriculture and gender equality. LEG4DEV shared our latest researching findings on rural energy access.
PhD student Shamilah Nassozi attended the conference on behalf of LEG4DEV. LEG4DEV’s presentation at the workshop focused on our research findings on rural energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa, conducted in collaboration with partners at the World Bank and SEforALL, and funded by the Irish Research Council and European Commission. Key highlights from our research presented at the workshop included:
- Adoption of clean cooking solutions: LEG4DEV explored the uptake of clean cooking technologies in rural areas, identifying key barriers such as affordability, cultural preferences, and supply chain issues.
- Longitudinal studies in Malawi: Our long-term research in Malawi provided insights into how rural energy access is evolving, with a focus on the social and economic factors that influence clean energy adoption.
- Satellite remote sensing approaches: We demonstrated the use of satellite data to measure energy access in remote areas, offering a new method to monitor progress towards SDG7.
- Gender-energy nexus: We highlighted our findings on the critical role of gender in energy access, particularly in how women’s access to energy can create equitable household dynamics and provide economic opportunities for women.
The workshop featured a broad range of speakers from various institutions, including the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, the EU Mission in Uganda, and the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology. Researchers from Kyambogo University, Makerere University, University of Galway, Imperial College London, and Politecnico di Torino shared latest findings on strategies for just energy transition in Africa. Representatives from NGOs and intergovernmental organizations such as the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the African Hydrogen Partnership (AHP), Res4Africa, LEAP-RE, and private sector companies including Johnson Matthey, eChemicles, and SoHHytec, also added their perspectives at the workshop.
Keynote speakers and presenters at the workshop emphasized the urgent need for Uganda and Africa to accelerate the transition to clean energy to combat climate change and achieve the UN’s sustainable development goals. Davide Bixio of the EU Mission in Kampala emphasized the need for Africa and Europe to collaborate on accelerating the transition to clean energy. Mr. Bixio outlined different partnership opportunities available for researchers and scaling partners. Mr. Bixio further outlined the opportunities for integration of renewable energy sources into existing power grids, emphasising the importance of ensuring marginalised groups can experience the benefits of the energy system transition firsthand.
The discussions at the workshop closely align with LEG4DEV’s mission to enhance food security and climate resilience for smallholder farmers through sustainable agricultural practices. Key takeaways for the LEG4DEV team include:
1. The Importance of Energy Access for Rural Development: Energy access is a cornerstone of rural development, driving economic growth and improving livelihoods. The workshop emphasized that without reliable and affordable energy, rural communities cannot fully participate in economic activities or adopt modern agricultural technologies. For LEG4DEV, this reinforces the importance of integrating energy access into agricultural programs. By ensuring that farmers have access to clean and affordable energy, we can support the adoption of efficient agricultural technologies, improve post-harvest handling and reduce food losses—ultimately increasing farmers’ resilience and productivity.
2. The Potential of Renewable Energy for Climate-Smart Agriculture: Renewable energy technologies, such as solar and wind power, have the potential to transform agricultural practices. The workshop highlighted how these technologies can power cooking stoves, irrigation systems, processing facilities and other essential agricultural infrastructure, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating climate change impacts. At LEG4DEV, we are exploring ways to integrate renewable energy solutions into our agroecological intensification programs, helping farmers adapt to changing climatic conditions and improve their resilience.
3. The Role of Women in the Energy Transition: Empowering women in the energy sector is essential for ensuring that the benefits of clean energy reach all segments of society. Women play a crucial role in agricultural production and food security, yet they often face significant barriers to accessing energy services. The workshop highlighted the need to address these disparities and ensure that women can participate meaningfully in the energy transition. LEG4DEV is committed to promoting gender equality in our programs and will continue to work with women’s organizations to ensure that women have access to energy services for cooking, lighting, and other household needs.
The Africa-EU Just Energy Transition Workshop provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of transitioning to clean energy in Africa. For LEG4DEV, the workshop reaffirmed our commitment to integrating energy access into our sustainable agricultural research. By working closely with our partners and stakeholders, we will continue to explore innovative solutions that can empower rural communities, promote gender equality, and support climate-smart agriculture. As we move forward, we invite our readers and partners to join us in this effort. Whether through collaboration, knowledge sharing, or support for ongoing projects, your engagement is crucial in helping us achieve our shared goals of sustainable development and energy access for all.