In this edition, we examine Africa’s place in the global energy transition and the opportunities and challenges that come with it. While the transition to clean energy is gathering pace worldwide, it is unfolding differently across countries, shaped by varying levels of investment, institutional capacity, resource endowments, and access to finance. For Africa, these realities underscore the need for a transition pathway that reflects the continent’s unique circumstances and development priorities.

We explore the strategic importance of Africa’s vast critical mineral resources and the steps required to transform these assets into long-term economic value. From investing in geological data and resource mapping to developing competitive value chains, African countries have an opportunity to position themselves not merely as suppliers of raw materials but as active participants in the global clean energy economy.

This issue also highlights ACEP’s engagement in Sierra Leone, where we supported discussions on optimizing revenue from dimension stones to maximize economic benefits for citizens and strengthen natural resource governance. We feature insights from our work on clean cooking solutions and their role in advancing energy access, public health, and environmental sustainability.

In addition, we introduce the Blindspot Podcast, a new platform designed to spark critical conversations on energy, climate, governance, and development issues shaping Africa’s future.