Vision
An Africa empowered by its own knowledge, capabilities and institutions, where countries confidently shape and own inclusive, sustainable and climate-resilient development pathways enabled by appropriate energy solutions.
What we work on
Energy decisions are usually treated as technical questions. But what gets built, who gets connected and what people pay decides who can earn a living, which industries grow and how cities develop. We work on three of these challenges.
Powering livelihoods. We work on how energy can strengthen farming, food systems, small businesses, public services and everyday livelihoods.
Inclusive industrialisation. We work on how energy choices can support industry and domestic value chains while the benefits are shared more fairly.
Urban transformation. We work on how energy systems can support better planned, more inclusive and more climate-resilient cities.
How we work
AISESA connects the people who produce knowledge with those who use it. Five research clusters build long-term expertise across the energy field. Three challenge areas bring that expertise together around pressing questions facing African societies and economies. Our country engagement and partnerships ground this work in national priorities, institutions and lived realities.
We invest in the connections between research, policy and practice because knowledge travels in all directions. Research can shape policy and implementation, while experience on the ground raises new questions, challenges assumptions and improves future research. We support this exchange through collaborative research, convening, policy and implementation support, fellowships and mentoring. Through this work, we strengthen the capability and influence of African researchers and institutions in decisions about Africa's energy future.
Who we are
AISESA is a pan-African network of researchers, policymakers, practitioners and institutions working to strengthen African knowledge, capability and influence across energy, climate and development. We bring together different disciplines, sectors, generations and parts of the continent around a shared commitment to African-led responses to Africa's priorities.
AISESA is led by an African Secretariat and guided by an Advisory Board comprising senior African leaders from policy, academia, business and civil society. A Core Leadership Group of experienced researchers and practitioners shapes our intellectual direction. Our work is advanced by research cluster leads, fellows at different stages of their careers, and a growing community of researchers, practitioners and institutions across Africa and beyond that are working on shared energy, climate and development priorities.
AISESA is institutionally hosted as a programme of AKADEMIYA2063.