Cities in transition: advancing urban electrification in Sub-Saharan Africa

Africa is on the move. With the world’s youngest population and some of the fastest-growing economies, the continent is undergoing a profound transformation. Nowhere is this more visible than in its cities. Sub-Saharan Africa’s urban population is set to double by 2050, and the region will be home to several of the world’s largest and most dynamic urban centres, from Lagos and Kinshasa to Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, and Johannesburg.

Yet this rapid urbanisation comes with immense pressure on infrastructure, services, and resources. Among the most pressing and most overlooked challenges is energy access. Today, more than 110 million people living in urban and peri-urban areas of Sub-Saharan Africa remain without electricity. This means that despite an average urban electrification rate of 78%, nearly one in five urban residents still live without electricity. These communities, often located in informal settlements or sprawling neighbourhoods beyond formal planning frameworks, face daily struggles linked to energy poverty: limited access to clean water and sanitation, reduced economic opportunities, barriers to education and healthcare, and increased exposure to insecurity.

This is not just a technical problem; it’s a development emergency. Access to reliable and affordable electricity underpins every dimension of sustainable development. Without it, cities cannot grow inclusively, businesses cannot thrive, and the continent’s ambitions for industrialisation, digital innovation, and green growth remain out of reach.

At RES4Africa Foundation, we are committed to addressing this urgent issue through knowledge, dialogue, and partnership. That’s why we are proud to present our new report: Access to Electricity in Urban and Peri-Urban Areas in Sub-Saharan Africa, now available in our digital library. Developed with the support of Enel Foundation as knowledge partner and MicroEnergy International as technical partner, the report builds on our growing body of work to expand energy access where it is most needed, and most strategic.

While efforts to improve rural electrification must continue, this study argues that urban and peri-urban areas require equal attention and tailored solutions. As economic and population centres, cities are not only hubs of opportunity but also sites of deep inequality. Many residents live “under the grid,” technically near energy infrastructure but unable to access it due to high connection costs, unreliable supply, regulatory barriers, or lack of formal housing status. In Nairobi, for example, over 60% of residents live in informal settlements, where basic infrastructure is sparse and electrification lags despite physical proximity to the grid.

The report takes a data-driven approach to understanding this challenge. It examines electrification trends, demographic projections, and infrastructure readiness across ten representative megacities, offering both a snapshot of current realities and forward-looking scenarios to 2030 and 2050. Key findings highlight the risk of stagnation: under current trends, only four of the ten cities analysed are likely to reach full electrification within the next two decades. A lack of investment, estimated at $28 billion per year until 2030, threatens to keep millions locked out of the modern economy. This figure underscores both the scale of the challenge and the opportunity: targeted investment in urban electrification could unlock massive socio-economic returns in the continent’s fastest-growing cities.

But the study also lays out a roadmap for action. It explores practical, scalable interventions, from grid modernisation and decentralised solar mini-grids to smart metering systems and innovative financing mechanisms like pay-as-you-go and public-private partnerships. It also addresses the critical issue of unreliable supply: in Nigeria, for instance, more than 50% of grid-connected households still face frequent blackouts, reducing trust in the system and limiting the perceived value of electricity access. It showcases success stories and pilot opportunities in cities like Lagos, Nairobi, and Johannesburg, offering governments and energy actors clear entry points for investment and reform.

Energy access must be integrated into broader urban planning efforts. Regulatory environments must evolve to attract private capital and enable innovation. And most importantly, the voices and needs of the communities at the heart of this challenge must be brought into the conversation.

At RES4Africa, we believe international cooperation, cross-sector partnerships, and African-led innovation are key to unlocking a just and inclusive energy future. As part of our mission to promote the deployment of renewable energy across the continent, we will continue to generate knowledge, support enabling frameworks, and work alongside institutions, utilities, and local communities to accelerate electrification in all its forms.

The road to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7, universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable energy, runs directly through Africa’s cities. With over 110 million urban residents still in the dark, this challenge can no longer be deferred. The time to act is now. With the right tools, investment, and political will, we can power the continent’s urban transformation and ensure that no one is left in the dark.

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