CALL FOR PAPERS

International Conference on the Political Economy of [Just] Energy Transitions and Inequality in Africa.

30th -31st March, 2026.

University of Ghana, Legon, Accra (Hybrid).

Africa is at the center of global debates on (just) energy transitions. The continent holds vast potential for renewable energy and is rich in critical minerals essential to the global green economy. The transition is often presented as a win-win process that will bring development and jobs associated with the shift to renewable energy globally and locally. However, progress toward a low-carbon future has been slow, and the benefits are uncertain. Many African countries face persistent challenges of political contestations over energy sector priorities, limited state capacity, and entrenched inequalities. As a result, questions of power, justice, and distribution have become central to the unfolding of energy transitions across the continent.

A key concern for this conference is to understand how countries' political and institutional contexts shape the prospects for (just) energy transitions – including how different kinds of energy projects are prioritized, financed, and sustained, and how benefits are distributed. Research contributions into political economy dynamics (e.g., political settlements, elite interests, and policy coalitions) and local content, capabilities, and linkage development are invited. These factors influence not only the pace of transition but also its equity – that is, who gains access, who is excluded, and who bears the social or environmental costs of change.

At the same time, the growing scramble for and extraction of critical minerals such as lithium, bauxite, cobalt, and manganese – driven by the global demand for renewable technologies – raises urgent questions about the new forms of (in)justice and inequality that may accompany Africa’s participation in the green transition. Who stands to benefit from the new extractive frontier, and who bears the brunt of its social and environmental costs? To what extent do these dynamics reproduce long-standing extractive dependencies, or offer opportunities for more equitable and sustainable development?

This international conference, organized by the University of Ghana's Centre for Social Policy Studies (CSPS) and the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS), provides an interdisciplinary platform for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to interrogate the political economy of energy transitions in Africa. The conference also offers an opportunity for participants to reflect on how both renewable energy initiatives and critical mineral extraction intersect with broader questions of inequality, inclusion, and development.

Conference Objectives:

● To explore how political and institutional dynamics shape renewable energy transitions in African countries.

● To examine how transition policies/projects interact with inequality, exclusion, and social justice.

● To foster dialogue and facilitate knowledge exchange among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners on pathways toward inclusive and sustainable energy systems.

● To provide a platform for emerging and postgraduate researchers to share new insights and methodologies.

Suggested Sub-Themes

Submissions may address, but are not limited to, the following areas:

1. The political economy of just energy transitions – power, interests, and policy change.

2. The role of local content, capabilities, and linkages in driving energy transitions

3. Critical minerals and the new resource frontiers – opportunities and inequalities in Africa’s energy future.

4. Institutional and governance dynamics – state capacity and the politics of reform.

5. Social inclusion and inequality – access to energy among marginalized populations (rural communities, women, and youth).

6. International and domestic drivers of energy policy – aid, finance, and geopolitical influences.

7. Decarbonization and development trade-offs – balancing economic growth, climate goals, and equity.

8. Energy citizenship and local politics – how citizens negotiate access, voice, and accountability.

Submission Guidelines

● Abstracts should be 300–400 words, clearly outlining the research question, methodology, and contribution to the conference theme.

● Include a short bio (max. 100 words) and institutional affiliation.

● Abstracts should be submitted to csps@ug.edu.gh; agabdulai@ug.edu.gh

● Deadline for abstract submission: 30th November 2025.

● Notification of acceptance: 5th December 2025.

Publication Opportunities

Selected papers will be considered for inclusion in an edited volume or special journal issue on the Political Economy of Energy Transitions and Inequality in Africa in a peer-reviewed international journal that is yet to be identified. Outstanding postgraduate submissions may also receive mentorship and publication support.

Participation

The conference welcomes contributions from:

•  Academic researchers and policy analysts.
•  Development practitioners and energy sector professionals.
•  Advanced postgraduate and doctoral students interested in political economy, energy policy, and inequality studies.

Conference Conveners:

 Abdul-Gafaru Abdulai, Professor of Development Politics, University of Ghana Business School, and Director, Centre for Social Policy Studies, University of Ghana.

 Dr. Rasmus Hundsbæk Pedersen, Senior Researcher, Danish Institute for International Studies, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Conference Funder:

The conference is financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, administered through a grant from the Danida Fellowship for the research project ‘Energy struggles – Renewable Energy in Africa