Applications are open for the African Energy Futures (AEF) Convening 2026, which will bring together African energy researchers, policymakers and development partners to examine how research can help shape the continent’s future energy systems.

The inaugural three-day convening will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from November 23–25, 2026. African researchers working on energy systems, models and policies are invited to submit original research papers or abstracts for consideration as conference presentations.

About African Energy Futures

African Energy Futures works to strengthen Africa’s ability to shape its own energy transition by supporting locally rooted research institutions and establishing energy research hubs across the continent.

The initiative provides medium-term, flexible grant funding to African research institutions and seeks to build a connected community of researchers capable of producing rigorous, policy-relevant evidence for energy planning and decision-making.

The inaugural convening will provide a platform for researchers from different disciplines to present their latest work and contribute to a broader conversation about Africa's energy future.

Call for Research Papers

AEF is inviting researchers to submit original papers or abstracts based on empirical or practical analysis of African energy systems, models or policies.

Research may focus on the subnational, national or regional level, but submissions should be analytically rigorous and demonstrate clear relevance to energy policy.

AEF is particularly interested in research that reflects Africa's social, political and economic realities rather than relying solely on approaches developed in other contexts.

Areas of Interest

Research submissions may address topics including:

• Capacity and production cost modelling
• Demand-side modelling in the African context
• Energy access and energy transition
• Energy access and affordability
• Clean cooking access
• Enabling policies and market design for the energy transition
• Socio-economic aspects of the energy transition
• Grid development and resilience
• Regional cooperation and power pools
• Energy economics
• Data and artificial intelligence

Researchers may also submit work addressing other relevant aspects of African energy systems, policies and planning.

Conference Participation

Conference attendance is by invitation only. Participants may attend either as selected presenters or as general delegates.

Authors whose papers are selected for presentation will receive further information about registration and participation.

AEF expects to notify authors selected to present their research in early October 2026.

Publication of Research

AEF intends, where possible, to publish papers and presentation slides from the convening on its website after the event.

Authors whose research has not yet been published can choose to opt out of having their papers or presentations shared online.

Submission Requirements

Researchers can submit either a full research paper or an abstract for consideration.

If a researcher has multiple papers they would like to submit, a separate application must be completed for each paper. However, only one paper per person will be selected for presentation.

The submission should demonstrate a strong connection to African energy challenges and provide evidence of the research's relevance to energy planning, policy or practice.

Important Dates

Paper/Abstract Submission Deadline: September 20, 2026, at midnight Central African Time (CAT)

Authors Notified: Early October 2026

AEF Convening: November 23–25, 2026

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

The deadline has been extended from the original September 14 date. AEF has indicated that no further extension will be made after September 20, 2026.

Don't miss out on the application deadline which is September 20, 2026, midnight CAT.