Institute for Global Change

How can trade help solve the West African power issues?

Roughly half of the population of West Africa has no access to electricity. The rural areas are lagging further behind, with almost 9 people out of 10 lacking access to electricity. This translates into a loss of competitiveness for industries and labour productivity, resulting in a high unemployment rate of the region and therefore its persisting poverty.

Report | 14th Nov 2019

A man stands in front of solar panels in Burkina Faso

Guinea’s Solar Promise

Thanks to its government’s openness to reform, Guinea has achieved a major energy milestone that is likely to lead to the country’s first solar-power plant. This journey to this result offers important lessons for energy sectors across West Africa.

Our Institute believes that the single biggest determinant of a country’s success is the quality of its government. That’s why we work with governments to help them be more effective and deliver reforms that benefit their people. This commentary is the first in a series of case studies that show how such reforms are made.

Commentary | 13th May 2019

Common Energy for Africa

A lack of electricity continues to hold back Africa’s progress and integration is essential to developing access to electricity.

This article first appeared on Project Syndicate on 23rd November 2018.

Commentary | 23rd Nov 2018

Tony Blair visits port in Freetown

Tony Blair visited the port in Freetown, Sierra Leone today to highlight the country’s continued efforts to recover from the impact of Ebola and the global fall in commodity prices, that has hit the West African economy hard in the last couple of years.

News | 8th Sep 2016

Moving from Master Plans to Power Plants

In a recent blog for Devex, Pierrick Judeaux, explains the crucial role African governments have in bringing power to their people.

Commentary | 10th Feb 2016

Challenges of Infrastructure Development

AGI's Dan Hymowitz and Julian Koschorke participated in the recent ‘Bricks and Dollars’ conference at the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), which looked at the challenges of infrastructure development across the globe. Dan spoke on a panel on the specific issue of infrastructure implementation while Julian participated in the event with Liberia’s Minister of Public Works, Gyude Moore, who gave a conference keynote.

News | 20th Nov 2015

The Runway in Liberia: Working on Effective Governance

Rupert Simons, former Country Head of our Effective Governance project in Liberia, tells us what it was like to work as an advisor in the President’s office.

Commentary | 16th Jul 2015

Hydro-Electricity in Liberia

Only just over 1% of Liberians have electricity - find out what we are doing to support the government to change this.

Briefing | 14th Jul 2015

Overcoming Africa’s Rural Energy Challenge

Africa is in the grip of an energy crisis, says this year’s Africa Progress Panel (APP) Report. We ask how to light up rural homes in sub-Saharan Africa.

Commentary | 2nd Jul 2015

Access to Electricity is the Single Most Vital Precondition for Success in African Nations

This article first appeared on Quartz Africa on 10 June 2015.

Commentary | 22nd Jun 2015

Sparking Africa’s Energy Revolution

Writing for the new Quartz Africa website, Tony Blair focuses on the importance of electricity to driving development in Africa.

Commentary | 12th Jun 2015