Energy Transition & Geopolitics in Sub-Saharan Africa: Outlining a Legal Framework to Scale the Energy Infrastructure Financing Conundrum

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Imran Kanu
Keyword(s):  
Energy Transition ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Energy Infrastructure ◽  
Sub Saharan

Leapfrogging to Solar

2021 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-175
Author(s):  
Gökçe Günel
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Solar Panels ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Energy Infrastructure ◽  
Electricity Grid ◽  
Electricity Rates ◽  
Electricity Crisis ◽  
Sub Saharan

Discussions of energy in sub-Saharan Africa tend to focus on leapfrogging, theorizing how some non-Western countries might be able to avoid carbon-intensive fuels, such as coal and oil, and directly start using renewable energy infrastructure, mainly solar. While theories of leapfrogging have been attractive, there has been limited research on how exactly renewable energy resources are adopted in sub-Saharan Africa, especially at times of unreliable access. Drawing on fieldwork with energy professionals in Accra and Tema, Ghana, this article analyzes the transformations in energy infrastructure in Ghana during the period following its 2012–16 electricity crisis, known as dumsor. It argues that an increasing volume of rooftop solar panels installed by affiuent individuals and institutions in the aftermath of the crisis has led to declining participation in the electricity grid, and thereby higher electricity rates for everyone else with no choice but to remain on the grid. In response to such growing inequality, decision-makers searched for innovative business models, appealing to green loans as ways of expanding this class of solar consumers. As a result, while a select few have managed to leapfrog to renewables, others continue to endure the grid, struggling with unsteady electricity provision and increasing tariffs.

Conflict period sexual violence against women: Promise of the vulnerability theory

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-85
Author(s):  
Judith A Oloo
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Conflict Situations ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Vulnerability Theory ◽  
Gender Based

Compared to most countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya has, for a long time, enjoyed relative peace. However, this perceived peace has been marked with several incidents of internal clashes exposing women to large-scale gender-based sexual violence. While sexual violence is generally common in peacetime, it is exacerbated in conflict situations such as the post-election violence of 2007–2008 which saw mass incidents of rape and unprecedented killings in Kenya. This happened despite a robust legal framework prohibiting sexual violence. This article shows that the state’s to take cognisance of certain issues uniquely affecting women in Kenya in various aspects and contexts accumulate to disadvantage women, thereby making them more vulnerable. Second, the state’s failure to respond adequately to the unique plight of women during peacetime further exacerbates their suffering during armed conflicts. Thus, in a bid to find a better legal framework to protect women during conflict in Kenya, this article analyses the vulnerability theory of human rights which acknowledges that humans are generally and naturally vulnerable to certain elements. It concludes by stating that only when the vulnerability of women is understood and appreciated, can the law be effectively used to protect women against sexual and gender-based violence in conflict situations, among other hardships that women face, just by virtue of being women. It proposes among others a multidimensional approach including law reform, strict implementation of the existing law, economic inclusion of women and more investment in women as a remedy.

Human rights education and the plight of vulnerable groups with specific reference to people with albinism in Tanzania

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 137-155
Author(s):  
John Cantius Mubangizi ◽  
Ines Kajiru
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Human Rights Education ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
The World ◽  
Sub Saharan

Although all human beings are vulnerable, some are more vulnerable than others, for example, people with albinism. Similarly, although albinism occurs in all parts of the world, it is more prevalent in some societies than in others. For example, Tanzania, in common with other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, has a high prevalence of albinism. Apart from being subjected to blatant discrimination and abuse, people with albinism suffer atrocious attacks sometimes resulting in death. This paper explores the nature and extent of discrimination and human rights violations of people with albinism in Tanzania in the context of the relevant legal framework available for their protection. Using people with albinism in Tanzania as a proxy, the paper argues that there is a need for human rights education not only to empower vulnerable people to defend and protect their rights but also to sensitize societies to respect and not violate the rights of such people. The paper concludes with several recommendations that apply to people with albinism in Tanzania as much as they would apply to any vulnerable group anywhere else in the world.

scholarly journals Rethinking a new transition finance paradigm for addressing the climate crisis in Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Zisuh
Keyword(s):  
Energy Policy ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Capital Investments ◽  
Grid Systems ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Private Investments ◽  
National Energy Policy ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Climate Crisis

Abstract This policy brief uncovers the investment-ready instruments and policy packages that can unlock the energy transition in Sub-Saharan Africa. These are summarised around three key messages. First, transition finance vehicles in Africa should aim to transform ‘brown’ (polluting) into ‘green’ (renewable) industries. Second, key instruments include green bonds for specific environmental projects, grants/guaranties to support private investments that target access to energy for the poor, and patient capital investments into growth sectors focused on environmental, social, and governance targets. Third, national energy policy should connect innovative market-based solutions (e.g., mini grids) to centralized (e.g., national grid) systems to strengthen governance.

scholarly journals Organ Donation and Transplantation in Sub-Saharan Africa: Opportunities and Challenges

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ifeoma Ulasi ◽  
Chinwuba Ijoma ◽  
Ngozi Ifebunandu ◽  
Ejikeme Arodiwe ◽  
Uchenna Ijoma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organ Donation ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Heterogeneous Region ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
Kidney Liver ◽  
Developed World

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), occupying about 80% of the African continent is a heterogeneous region with estimated population of 1.1 billion people in 47 countries. Most belong to the low resource countries (LRCs). The high prevalence of end-organ diseases of kidney, liver, lung and heart makes provision of organ donation and transplantation necessary. Although kidney and heart transplantations were performed in South Africa in the 1960s, transplant activity in SSA lags behind the developed world. Peculiar challenges militating against successful development of transplant programmes include high cost of treatment, low GDP of most countries, inadequate infrastructural and institutional support, absence of subsidy, poor knowledge of the disease condition, poor accessibility to health-care facilities, religious and trado-cultural practices. Many people in the region patronize alternative healthcare as first choice. Opportunities that if harnessed may alter the unfavorable landscape are: implementation of the 2007 WHO Regional Consultation recommendations for establishment of national legal framework and self-sufficient organ donation/transplantation in each country and adoption of their 2020 proposed actions for organ/transplantation for member states, national registries with sharing of data with GODT, prevention of transplant commercialization and tourism. Additionally, adapting some aspects of proven successful models in LRCs will improve transplantation programmes in SSA.

scholarly journals The Role of Off-Grid Houses in the Energy Transition with a Case Study in the Netherlands

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2033 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego F. Quintero Pulido ◽  
Marnix V. Ten Kortenaar ◽  
Johann L. Hurink ◽  
Gerard J.M. Smit
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
The World ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Electricity Access ◽  
Renewable Energy Generation

Off-grid houses can be considered an important concept to increase the access to electricity throughout the world. Although there are quite some initiatives in place to improve the access to electricity, the implementation rate of practical solutions is far below the UN Sustainable Development Goal 7: Energy (SDG 7) + for 2030. This situation is most apparent in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the current trends of electricity access calculated by the World Bank indicate that this region will not be able to achieve the SDG 7 target. Another worldwide trend which may help to increase electricity access is that currently, a lot of renewable energy generation is realized locally in houses (especially Solar Photovoltaics (PV)). This paper reviews the recent developments to increase the access to electricity in the world and the implementation of off-grid houses in different scenarios. The focus here is on the different efforts to create off-grid houses considering their challenges on a macro and micro level. Moreover, potential research directions for technologies in off-grid houses are presented in more detail. For this, a case description of a possible off-grid house in the Netherlands is presented together with some initial simulations results for this case using solar PV, the Sea-Salt battery, and a Glycerol Fuel Cell. The simulations use the DEMkit software and the analysis is performed using measured house load data for a period in winter and in summer.

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