Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Energy: The Role of CSR in Advancing Clean Energy Access in African Informal Settlements

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6463-906-3_12How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Public-Private Partnerships; Sustainable Energy; Corporate Social Responsibility; Informal Settlements; Clean Energy Access

Abstract

A significant population of the African continent lack reliable electricity, a crisis acutely concentrated in its vast informal settlements. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives are pivotal yet underexplored mechanisms for addressing this energy poverty and promoting clean energy access. This research examines the synergy between CSR and PPPs to understand how these frameworks foster inclusive development, mitigate climate risks, and enhance the quality of life for underserved communities. Analysing five case studies through an integrated framework of Technological Innovation Systems (TIS) and Stakeholder Theory, this study demonstrates that CSR-driven partnerships are instrumental in market creation, entrepreneurial experimentation, and legitimising sustainable energy innovations, such as solar and decentralised technologies. The findings reveal that effective stakeholder engagement ensures projects align with community needs and foster social equity. However, regulatory barriers, financial constraints, and power imbalances between stakeholders pose significant risks to long-term success. The research concludes that CSR efforts within PPP frameworks must adopt participatory governance, innovative financing models, and robust policy support. These recommendations are crucial for enhancing the scalability and sustainability of clean energy solutions, ultimately paving the way for transformative impact in Africa's informal settlements.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Neville Mangwiro
AU  - Oluwagbenga Apata
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/12/12
TI  - Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Energy: The Role of CSR in Advancing Clean Energy Access in African Informal Settlements
BT  - Proceedings of Botho University International Research Conference (BUIRC 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 215
EP  - 239
SN  - 3005-155X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-906-3_12
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-906-3_12
ID  - Mangwiro2025
ER  -