Energy Transition as a Growth Engine: Unlocking Jobs and Investment in Central Africa

Date: May 21, 2026
Time: 3:00 – 4:00 PM (WAT)
Venue: Zoom Online (Register now)

Background and Rationale

Central Africa stands at a pivotal moment in its development trajectory. The region possesses vast renewable energy resources—solar, hydro, wind, and biomass—yet continues to face chronic energy deficits, low electrification rates, and limited industrialization. At the same time, Central Africa confronts a pressing jobs challenge, driven by rapid population growth, urbanization, and a young labor force entering markets that struggle to absorb new entrants.

The global energy transition presents a strategic opportunity to address these twin challenges. Beyond climate and environmental benefits, energy transition can function as a powerful growth engine, catalyzing private investment, strengthening value chains, expanding productive capacity, and generating quality jobs across multiple sectors—from energy generation and transmission to manufacturing, construction, services, and digital technologies.

However, realizing this potential requires more than ambition. Investors face real and perceived risks related to regulatory uncertainty, financing constraints, infrastructure gaps, skills mismatches, and fragmented markets. Governments and development partners must therefore work in concert with the private sector to create enabling policy environments, de-risk investments, and align workforce development with emerging green energy value chains.

This webinar seeks to move beyond abstract discussions of energy transition by focusing squarely on jobs, investment, and growth. It will bring together private-sector leaders, investors, policymakers, and development partners to explore how Central Africa can transform energy transition into a driver of inclusive economic growth.

Objectives of the Webinar

The webinar aims to:

• Examine the investment and job-creation potential of green and renewable energy in Central Africa.
• Identify priority energy subsectors with the strongest employment and growth multipliers.
• Explore the policy, regulatory, and financing conditions required to unlock private investment.
• Discuss strategies for building local skills, enterprises, and value chains linked to energy transition.
• Foster dialogue between investors, governments, and development partners on practical pathways forward.

Target Audience

• Private investors and energy developers
• Financial institutions and impact investors
• Policymakers and regulators in energy, labor, and investment
• Development partners and multilateral institutions
• Think tanks, researchers, and civil society organizations
• Entrepreneurs and professionals interested in green energy markets

Expected Outcomes

By the end of the webinar, participants are expected to:

• Gain a clearer understanding of how energy transition can drive growth and employment in Central Africa.
• Identify concrete investment opportunities and priority subsectors for job creation.
• Better understand policy and financing tools that can unlock private capital.
• Strengthen connections between investors, policymakers, and development partners.
• Contribute to evidence-based dialogue on inclusive and sustainable energy-led growth.

About the Nkafu Policy Institute

The Nkafu Policy Institute of the Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation is a leading independent African policy research institution with vision to accelerate Africa’s Economic Transformation. It drives Africa’s prosperity through evidence-informed policymaking, enabling all citizens to thrive in free, fair, democratic, and flourishing economies. Through rigorous analysis, high-impact publications, and inclusive dialogue, Nkafu promotes practical reforms that strengthen governance and enhance Africa’s development trajectory.