Energy access is essential for economic development.1,2,3,4 Over several centuries, civilizations have relied on energy to drive productivity and meet critical needs. The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognize access to “affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all” as a global imperative. However, Africa is nowhere close to achieving this objective. Of the 2.3 billion people globally without access to clean cooking, over 900 million are in Africa. Over 600 million people in Africa (43% of the total population) do not have access to electricity. The continent accounts for less than 6% of total global energy use despite having more than 18% of the world’s population, and less than 45% of people surveyed say they have access to reliable electricity. Recognizing how critical well-functioning energy systems are to building robust economies, African governments and other actors are pursuing diverse strategies to improve energy access.