Research Reports

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Funded and Supported by USAID
  • 2022 - Student Energy and Ørsted

    The Energy Transition Skills Project led by Student Energy, in partnership with Ørsted, explores what is most important to young people when looking for employment and what barriers they face to entering the energy transition jobs labour market. By understanding the needs and aspirations of young people, the project provides insight to young people, organizations, companies, governments, and other energy actors on how they can advance youth skill development and employment in the energy transition.

  • 2022 - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

    The current study presents the initial discussion paper which seeks to explore the role TVET can and should play in a Just Transition to a Green Future and how DC can support partner countries in this endeavour.

  • 2022 - Tshikululu Social Investments

    The aim of the study is to present examples of best practice in areas which can be used to strengthen the governance and the social development intent of the current RBM trusts.

  • 2022 - Sustainable Energy Africa

    This report follows the format of first introducing the national and local energy development landscape as a background context for the study. It then deepens its focus on energy use in municipalities, covering the energy service delivery status of the 2 study municipalities (technical and policy elements), household energy use patterns of low-income households in these municipalities, followed by a brief review of lessons from international and local community energy projects.

  • 2022 - Megan Davies, Holle Wlokas, Nina Callaghan and Mark Swilling

    This report offers a collection of insights emerging from the national large-scale renewable energy programmme.

  • 2021 - Intellidex

    Intellidex has conducted a research project into community trusts set up under South Africa’s renewable energy independent power producer procurement programme (REIPPPP). The research was funded by FirstRand.

  • 2021 - Sebastian Helgenberger, Grace Mbungu, Héctor Rodríguez, Almudena Nunez

    This paper outlines the Social Performance Approach, offering a new perspective
    on understanding and shaping energy sector investments for the benefit of people and communities.


  • 2021 - Bryan Michael, Kenneth Robinson and Siân Stephens

    The research investigated community engagement within the tripartite relationship of a wind farm, the communities around it, and the local government. It was found that local government played a moderating role in the community engagement efforts of the wind farm, which had to comply with certain engagement protocols determined by local government.

  • 2021 - Fumani Mthembi

    This paper explores the question of scaling Just Transition community projects, blending historical and empirical perspectives. Through an assessment of the design, funding, implementation and maintenance of such projects, the paper articulates the constraints and opportunities for South Africa’s historically disadvantaged communities. South Africa is indeed not new transition projects and, in some ways, can be argued to still be going through a version of its original post-Apartheid transition.

  • 2021 - Grace Mbungu and Sebastian Helgenberger

    This paper develops a social performance approach for energy-sector investments and energy project development. In essence, this puts the needs and well-being of people – including current and future generations – at the centre of energy development and related investments and activities. The approach can help determine whether (or not) the development and implementation of energy projects (e.g., a renewable wind park, decentralised energy services such as solar mini-grids, or a coal-mining site) and the usage of locally generated energy directly contributes to the livelihoods and prospects of local communities.

Disclaimer: This project is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this project are the sole responsibility of the Initiative for Social Performance in Renewable Energy (INSPIRE) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.