Nicole Kempis 

In April, I had the opportunity to attend the annual Centre of African Studies conference, Climate Dynamics and the Politics of a Post-Carbon Africa. Throughout the event, several key themes emerged: Africa’s agency in the global climate transition, applying Just Transitions to African contexts, and the central role that research-policy partnerships must play in pursuing fair and inclusive climate action. 

Climate Action in Africa 

The keynote address delivered by Uzoamaka Nwamarah, Climate Advisor to the Commonwealth, captured a message that would resonate throughout the day: African governments are not passive recipients of a global climate agenda, they are actively shaping a post-carbon future.  

Africa’s substantial resources, which include 60% of the world’s solar potential and 30% of its critical minerals, position the continent as the central player in the global energy transition. However, political and structural barriers, from financing shortfalls to inequitable technology access, have historically constrained Africa’s ability to leverage these assets. But as Nwamarah stressed, this context must not be used to frame African countries as victims. Africa is a leader in the climate transition, and the continent will draw on its diverse cultures, histories, and advantages to achieve both ambitious decarbonisation and inclusive development.  

Just Transitions 

The phrase “Just Transition” surfaced repeatedly throughout the conference, with speakers and participants emphasising that the concept must be more than a term borrowed from Annex I countries.  

In my panel remarks, I highlighted Climate Strategies’ work with partners in Kenya, Malawi, and Ghana, where we focus on aligning research with local policy needs. Rather than imposing external solutions, in-country researchers developed research that reflected the specific challenges and opportunities in each country and relevant sectors.  

This theme of tailoring Just Transition frameworks to local contexts was echoed throughout the conference. Ghana’s focus on moving up the value chain from mineral extraction to manufacturing reflects a vision where green growth is tied to industrial policy and youth employment. In Malawi, recurrent climate disasters have shifted priorities toward resilience and energy access as prerequisites for green transformations. And in Kenya, climate action is being framed as an engine for green growth. These examples highlight the importance of adopting a country-specific approach when discussing Just Transitions. Without this lens, there is a risk that climate action will unintentionally mask or even exacerbate existing inequalities. 

Bridging the Gap Between Knowledge and Action 

Beyond discussions of Just Transitions, my contribution to the conference focused on the critical role of research-policy partnerships in driving effective climate action. 

Too often, excellent research stays within academic circles without influencing the policies shaping real-world outcomes. Our work at Climate Strategies positions us as knowledge brokers; we connect what researchers know with what policymakers need to make informed, timely decisions.  

This approach is born out of the recognition that partnerships between technical experts and policymakers are essential if governments are to advance effective climate plans at national and international levels. Extensive research is being conducted by institutions in Africa — it is key that this expertise is harnessed for climate policy. 

There are three important approaches to connecting research to policy work :   

• Researchers can link their research to real-world needs by asking: “What do decision-makers in my country need to know?” and “How can these gaps be addressed?” Researchers should also be intentional about creating a plan for how they will feed their findings into these gaps. For example, through meetings with policymakers, engagements in public consultations, or written policy inputs. 

• We need to foreground an interdisciplinary approach. Policymakers are already siloed — those in Environmental ministries are not always closely collaborating with those in labour ministries or the treasury. Academia can help bridge those knowledge gaps, but only when researchers actively collaborate across disciplines.  

• International foundations and institutions need to be intentional about partnering with African colleagues. A few positive examples emerged from the conference: partnerships between the Mastercard Foundation and African institutions, collaborations between the University of Edinburgh and the University of Witwatersrand, and initiatives like the African School of Governance in Rwanda. However, far more work is needed. Without decisive action on climate finance and research investment, Africa’s green transition risks being unjustly delayed.  

Evidence alone cannot bridge the climate finance gap or shift political incentives. Research must be connected to fundraising efforts, policymaking cycles, and partnerships. Only then can Africa’s climate future be shaped by national leadership, grounded in local realities, and driven by the needs of the next generation.  

Nicole is a Development and Programme Officer at Climate Strategies and is the South-to-South Just Transitions project coordinator. Prior to working at Climate Strategies, she worked in sustainable agriculture in Rwanda. Nicole has an MSc in Sustainable Development from the University of St Andrews, with a focus on reconciling tensions between social and ecological justice in transfrontier conservation projects in Southern Africa.