The energy transition context varies widely across countries. Key differences include the presence and strength of clean energy actors, the maturity of domestic capital markets, and access to international financing. The capacity of private sector and institutional investors to engage in green energy development shapes the opportunities available. Each country must therefore tailor its approach to the transition, considering both domestic conditions and global market dynamics.
Africa holds nearly one-third of the world’s reserves of critical minerals, positioning the continent at the center of the global clean energy transition. To unlock this potential, African countries must begin by investing in comprehensive geological data to establish the scale, type, and technological relevance of their mineral resources. This data should form the foundation for a coherent green minerals strategy that identifies competitive advantages along the value chain whether in raw material supply, processing, or downstream technological development.
Strong governance frameworks and an enabling investment climate are essential for attracting partners with both capital and expertise to responsibly develop these resources. At the same time, Africa must avoid repeating the mistakes of the past resource exploitation by moving beyond mere extraction toward value addition. On a regional scale, Africa must strengthen cross-border cooperation to maximize the benefits of its diverse mineral base. For instance, linking complementary resources such as Ghana’s lithium with Togo’s phosphate could strategically position Africa in the global battery value chain.
For the clean energy transition to be truly transformative, Africans themselves must take ownership of investment, innovation, and value creation. Within this vision, Africa’s youth must be recognized as central actors. Critically, a portion of both national and international climate finance must be reserved specifically for youth-led initiatives to guarantee their active role in shaping Africa’s green economy.FEC2025