School of Social and Political Science

Description

Africa‑NICE is a collaborative research initiative that brings together scholars and practitioners to explore how energy systems shape, and are shaped by, the social, technological, aesthetic, and political life of African cities. 

At a time of rapid urbanisation and expanding clean energy ambitions across the continent, the project examines the ideas, expectations, and everyday practices that underpin urban energy transitions. It also analyses the politics, mobilities, and risks that emerge as cities adopt new forms of energy infrastructure. 

A central aim of Africa‑NICE is to address longstanding gaps and asymmetries in knowledge production on the relationship between clean energy transitions and urbanisation in Africa. Current policy and academic debates often lack critical empirical insight into how energy transitions are reshaping urban governance, public imaginaries, and lived experiences across African contexts. 

In response, the project advances two key interventions: 

• A two‑phase knowledge‑production incubator to facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue and generate context‑specific insights
• The establishment of a longer‑term institutional network dedicated to cities‑and‑energy research in Africa. 

Through its workshops, publications, and collaborative engagements, Africa‑NICE seeks to co‑create an interdisciplinary community of researchers committed to producing high‑quality scholarship, policy‑relevant analysis, and practice‑based interventions. 

The project is funded in part by the Royal Society of Edinburgh-funded Fuming Cities initiative.

Other team members include Dr Mohammad Amir Anwar (Centre of African Studies, University of Edinburgh) and Dr Pius Siakwah ( Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana).