The Research Problem
The proposed project aims to generate robust evidence on feasible pathways for a fair, inclusive, and low carbon energy transition in Sub-Saharan Africa. To this end, it will establish an Africa-Focused International Participatory Research Forum and Initiative for Multi-stakeholder Dialogue (AFFINITY-FORSIDES), operating initially in Ghana, South Africa and Uganda, complemented by international exchanges to promote mutual learning. AFFINITY–FORSIDES aligns with the RDF 2025 focus on sustainable development, just energy transitions and reducing inequalities. It targets Sub-Saharan Africa in high-leverage areas where renewable value chains are emerging and/or coal plants are slated for phase-out, with priority for vulnerable and under-represented groups.
Research Design
The project’s core is a research forum for multi-stakeholder dialogue that is intentionally designed to generate qualitative, decision-relevant evidence on the main challenges and opportunities for poverty affected stakeholders (distributional impacts, livelihood risks, jobs, etc.). This dialogue is coupled with a computable Decision Support System (DSS) calibrated by the WUN-member universities within previous research projects. This DSS assesses the socio-economic effects of proposed interventions and feeds near real-time feedback back into the discussions within FORSIDES . This reflexive loop improves deliberation quality, accelerates learning and helps identify socially acceptable, context-fit policy packages aligned with NDC delivery.
Methodologically, the work is interdisciplinary (engineering, economics, ethics, social science) and produces comparable indicators of transition progress, country briefs and media-ready summaries to support regulators and ministries. Internationally, FORSIDES INTERNATIONAL connects the country platforms with WUN to compare successes and mistakes, enabling leapfrogging and avoiding costly missteps seen elsewhere.
Project Objectives
The proposed project aims to generate robust evidence on feasible pathways for a fair, inclusive, and low carbon energy transition in Sub-Saharan Africa. To this end, it will establish an Africa-Focused International Participatory Research Forum and Initiative for Multi-stakeholder Dialogue (AFFINITY-FORSIDES), operating initially in Ghana, South Africa and Uganda, complemented by international exchanges to promote mutual learning. This structure comes fully into its own through the active involvement of the overwhelming majority of WUN member universities, which form the backbone of this research initiative and ensure its international depth and diversity