Isaac Ketu joins ARUA-CD as a research fellow to tackle the tensions and trade-offs associated with energy transitions and poverty in Africa

ARUA-CD is currently hosting Isaac Ketu, the newest ARUA/Carnegie-Mastercard early career research fellow, for six months to explore a pertinent question in the current climate policy discourse: how do you strive for a sustainable energy transition in Africa without leaving behind vulnerable households? Isaac will be based at the African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI), at the University of Cape Town, for the duration of his fellowship.

Isaac has a background in Economics and a PhD from the University of Dschang where he explored how infrastructure development can be leveraged to foster structural transformation in developing African countries. He has authored and co-authored several research papers and published in leading peer-reviewed journals. His papers were ranked among the top-most-cited papers published by African Development Review and the Journal of International Development in 2024.

Building on this strong academic career, his current research focuses on energy policy and the socio-economic dimensions of clean energy adoption in Africa. Isaac explains how his research explores a central tension in Africa’s climate policy and energy transitions:

"My work poses the following question in Africa's energy transition: how does households' poverty shape their willingness to support climate and energy policies that may increase their cost of living?"

His research is guided by this overarching question and examines the public acceptance of measures like switching to cleaner cooking fuels, firewood and charcoal bans, renewable electricity investment, and electric public transport in Africa. He also explores whether climate awareness, the experience of climate-related shocks and trust in government is enough to sustain public support when transition policies come with real costs to households. Below he reflects on what he aims to achieve through the ARUA-CD fellowship:

"I hope the research will contribute to a better understanding of how energy transitions can be designed in ways that are not only environmentally sustainable, but economically just."

This desire from Isaac is a pressing and unresolved issue in Africa from his perspective. He reflects on this issue and what he is interested in finding out more about during his six months at the ACDI:

“Africa urgently needs to expand access to clean energy on one hand, but many households are already facing poverty and economic insecurity. So, in this context, it is interesting to assess how governments could pursue ambitious climate policies while protecting vulnerable households.”

For Isaac, the ARUA-CD fellowship is also about building networks and fostering relationships to support future work in his field.

"Being here at ACDI gives me the opportunity to engage with researchers and scholars working on similar topics on climate and energy issues and gives me an opportunity to receive feedback on my research and explore new perspectives on the challenges of achieving a just energy transition in Africa."

Isaac’s research will add to the growing body of research at the ACDI, which deals with the tensions and synergies between climate and development. We are so excited to welcome Isaac and track his achievements over the next six months. This fellowship reflects the broader purpose of the ARUA-CD partnership which is to strengthen the new generation of African researchers and practitioners who are grappling with the core challenges facing climate and development across the continent.