Transforming rural energy access in sub-Saharan Africa with digital technologies.

Key insights 1. Digitalization presents a unique opportunity to address energy access challenges in sub-Saharan Africa by leveraging frontier technologies to develop practical and contextualized solutions, supported by enabling regulatory and institutional environments. 2. Knowledge and skills gaps in the workforce limit the utilization of innovative technological and financial approaches to enhance energy access in rural areas. This demands the periodic upskilling of the workforce in state-of-the-art technologies. 3. Advancing rural electrification and clean cooking technologies in sub-Saharan Africa is constrained by financial, technological and governance challenges, including high investment risks for the private sector and limited end-user affordability. Investing in alternative energy solutions that leverage digital technologies while also involving communities and other stakeholders (particularly the private sector and academia) in their development and operation can help reduce such constraints. 4. Marginalized groups, particularly rural women and girls, are disproportionately impacted by limited energy access in the region. Enhancing their digital literacy and enabling their participation in the energy transition can help not only to close the gender gap but also to achieve energy access for all. 5. Energy systems in sub-Saharan Africa are already witnessing climate-change-induced operational challenges. In rural energy planning, considering the current and future impacts of climate change as well as the risks to supply and demand can help minimize negative impacts and avert losses, while increasing long-term resilience and cost-effectiveness.