Energy & Finance Across Africa: A Scoping Review

This analysis examines Africa’s vast energy resources - including oil, gas, hydropower, solar, and wind - alongside the financial, regulatory, and infrastructure dynamics shaping energy access across the continent. Despite abundant potential, millions of people in Africa, particularly in West Africa, continue to face severe energy-access constraints. The paper explores why these gaps persist and what investment and policy approaches are needed to address them.

Drawing on country case studies and regional initiatives, the research highlights the role of public-private partnerships, blended finance, and regulatory reform in scaling reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy systems. It also assesses how foreign investment, regional cooperation, and innovative financing mechanisms can better support industrialisation, economic integration, and a just energy transition.