STISA 2034: Powering Africa’s future with inclusive energy research

Africa’s energy future will be shaped by the researchers building the technical evidence to support it, from powering hospitals and schools to supporting manufacturing, agriculture, and digital innovation; energy is the engine that enables development.

Yet hundreds of millions of Africans still face unreliable electricity supply or have no access to modern energy services at all.

Meeting Africa’s growing energy needs requires research that develops locally relevant solutions, informs policy and accelerates innovation for a just energy transition.

That is the premise behind the Energy stream of the Science Granting Councils Initiative’s multilateral research call, launched to advance the continent’s Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA 2034).

The stream invites African research institutions to submit proposals on renewable energy, energy storage, smart systems and inclusive energy access to support a just energy transition.

The Energy stream is one of five thematic priorities under the call, alongside Health, Agriculture and Food Systems, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies, and Environment and Climate Resilience.

An opportunity for African researchers

The call encourages African universities, public research organisations and government research institutions to form multi-country research consortia that address some of the continent’s most pressing energy challenges.

Researchers are invited to develop proposals focused on renewable energy, energy storage technologies, smart energy systems and inclusive energy access, all areas identified as critical for supporting Africa’s transition to sustainable and resilient energy systems.

The Call is supported through a partnership of African Science Granting Councils, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Government of Norway, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and Wellcome.

Researchers and eligible institutions are invited to explore the call, identify potential consortium partners and submit expressions of interest before the deadline of 25 September 2026 (23:59 EDT).

Learn more about the call, access the Research Matchmaking platform, and begin your application at https://call.sgci.africa/

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Published on 04 August 2026

By Jackie Opara-Fatoye