Q1 & Q2 Newsletter 2025

Newsletter from EPRU

EPRU’s first half of 2025 has been marked by exciting progress, with a range of impactful activities, publications, and research initiatives. This edition of the newsletter offers a snapshot of the work we’ve been doing to inform policy, support emerging researchers, and advance sustainable development across Africa.

Research & Project Updates

 

Researchers developed methods to assess climate vulnerability of protected areas

Climate change is a challenge for Protected Areas, such as national parks. It can affect biodiversity, infrastructure, and income from tourism. EPRU researchers developed a framework to assess PA’s vulnerability to climate change

Large grant for project on green finance for Agrifood SMEs in South Africa

Prof. Amin Karimu and Dr. Abel Gwaindepi were awarded 10 Million Danish Kroner to conduct research on green financing for Agrifood SMEs in South Africa. This research hopes to determine the effectiveness of green financing in South Africa

Agricultural voucher systems can encourage crop diversification

EPRU researchers examined the impact of electronic agricultural vouchers on crop diversification in Zambia. The researchers found that there were limited increases in crop diversification, which was affected by a variety of external factors

 

 EPRU researchers explore the energy efficiency in Africa's informal sector

EPRU-EfD Researchers have examined the informal economies’ impact on energy efficiency in African countries. Using a multi-method approach and panel data from 46 African countries, they found results indicating a negative relationship between the size of informal economies and energy efficiency

Cleaner cooking in Tanzania: Incentives for LPG stoves can help save forests

Charcoal is used for cooking in many sub-Saharan countries but has many issues. EPRU-EfD researchers conducted a study, introducing liquid petroleum gas stoves through either subsidies or credit. They found significant CO2 emission reductions and improvements to health outcomes

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 Researchers explore strategies to "de-risk" green hydrogen investment in the Global South 

EPRU researchers collaborated with UNU-MERIT to study methods to de-risk green hydrogen investment. They examined Chile and South Africa’s green hydrogen projects and their potential risks. They found important paths to aid development

Workshop & Event News

 

Workshop sets the stage for policy-aligned research on natural capital

NatCap held a two-day workshop hosting researchers and policymakers from across Sub-Saharan Africa. It marks the first of NatCap’s renewed efforts to align research with policy priorities within SSA.

EfD South Africa hosts workshop for young researchers

EfD South Africa hosted a training workshop on Academic Writing and Research Ethics for 24 young researchers from Sub-Saharan African countries. The workshop, led by Dr Yonas Alem, covered essential research skills to equip the researchers.

EPRU Researchers Share Insights at EI4WS Close-Out Celebration

EPRU-EfD Researchers presented at the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) close-out celebration for a 7-year long water security and infrastructure project. Martine Visser presented findings on Natural Capital Accounting

Recent publications

Mapping Africa’s import product dependency amidst global shocks

This study examines Africa’s reliance on imported products using five criteria: market concentration, foreign demand, capacity for domestic substitution, market relevance, and product elasticity of substitution. By analysing Africa’s imports over 27 years, it was found that approximately 10% of products imported into Africa, in terms of value and volume, were considered dependent or risky.

Socrates Kraido Majune, Patricia Ssozi Naluwooza, Abdiaziz Abdikadir Ahmed & Victor Stolzenburg
Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, June 2025

Credit constraints and willingness to pay for electricity among non-connected households in Zambia.

With low levels of access to electricity in Zambia, many households are dependent on traditional energy sources. This study examines data from a contingent valuation survey from the World Bank to estimate households’ willingness to pay for electricity connections amongst non-connected households. Using two different electrification technologies, they found a positive willingness to pay across both options.

Sydney Kabango Chishimba & Edwin Muchapondwa
Energy for Sustainable Development, April 2025

Standing up for women: Gender mainstreaming in energy policy in Senegal

This paper focuses on the gendered impacts of energy access in rural areas. The researchers examine gender mainstreaming and dynamics in the case study, which addresses energy vulnerability in Senegal through rural electrification and other public services.

Sadio Ba Gning & Edwin Muchapondwa
Energy Research & Social Science, May 2025

Zambia’s agricultural input support programme: Estimating the impact of the voucher delivery system on crop diversification

Zambia runs an agricultural input support programme which supports 900 000 rural households. With the implementation of a new electronic voucher system, farmers were able to select inputs, with hopes of crop diversification. The researchers found that there was limited uptake with crop diversification for a variety of reasons

Informal economies and energy efficiency: Empirical evidence from African countries

Pervasive informal economies can significantly hinder efforts to improve energy efficiency. The researchers examine the complex relationship between informal economies and energy efficiency in African countries. They find a negative relationship between informal economies and energy efficiency, which reflect previous studies’ findings. These results inform policy recommendations.

Other News

Call for Proposals

As part of its capacity-building mission, the SPIA-Nigeria country study team is pleased to announce a call for proposals to support MSc, PhD, and early-career researchers who conduct empirical research on Nigeria's agricultural sector. The SPIA-Nigeria country study is a three-year research program, spanning January 2025 – December 2027, aiming to investigate the reach, adoption, and impact of CGIAR-promoted innovations in Nigeria over the past 20 years (2005- 2025).

Application deadline: 7 July 2025

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