About the project
African cities are undergoing rapid growth, with development partly funded by overseas remittances. However, the impacts of this on clean energy transitions is poorly understood. You will address this gap by combining innovative qualitative and quantitative data sources on remittances and renewable energy deployment in African cities.
This PhD investigates the potential of migrant remittances to drive renewable energy transitions in rapidly urbanizing African cities. As urban populations densify, energy demand increases, straining existing infrastructure and intensifying fossil fuel reliance. Data gaps and limited exploration of the contribution of remittance flows hinders comprehensive planning.
This project addresses these gaps by examining how remittances - typically studied indirectly in terms of increased fossil fuel use - might also support investments in clean energy technologies, thereby enhancing urban sustainability.
Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines quantitative analysis of remittance and energy consumption data with qualitative insights from migrant-sending households and stakeholders in selected African cities. Statistical methods will be used to link remittance flows to deployment of renewable energy, identifying both positive and negative pathways. Qualitative methods will uncover how remittance recipient households are incorporating renewable energy solutions into their lives and the cultural and socioeconomic factors influencing these decisions. Policy frameworks around green financing, diaspora engagement and their effectiveness for sustainable energy transitions will be evaluated.
By developing a comprehensive model of how remittances can influence renewable energy uptake, this project offers policymakers a foundation for more inclusive urban energy planning. The findings have implications for leveraging transnational capital to support Africa’s sustainability goals, advancing knowledge at the intersection of migration, energy, and urban resilience.
You will benefit from affiliation from the Centre for Transnational Studies. International research networks of the supervisors will assist in refining case studies and data sources.
