Bridging the Energy Gap: Knowledge-driven and Policy Approaches to Strengthen Energy Security in Africa

The challenge of energy security is particularly pronounced in Africa, where millions lack electricity access and clean cooking solutions. These populations rely instead on traditional biomass, kerosene, and other polluting energy sources, further exacerbating public health risks and environmental degradation. This study investigates the relationship between knowledge-driven capacity, policy frameworks, and energy security across 23 African countries from 1999 to 2023. Energy security, defined as the availability, accessibility, affordability, and reliability of energy resources, is assessed using a comprehensive Energy Security Index constructed with the Improved Entropy Method. The findings reveal that knowledge-driven capacity, particularly human capital and scientific output, significantly enhances energy security, while the effects of digital expansion and innovation vary by region. Policy frameworks, including governance effectiveness and social inclusion, positively influence energy security, with stronger impacts in regions with higher energy security performance. Regional disparities are evident, with Southern and Eastern Africa benefiting more from knowledge-driven technologies than Western and Central Africa, emphasizing the need for context-specific policy strategies. The Method of Moments Quantile Regression confirms asymmetric effects, with education, scientific output, and governance effectiveness being the most consistent drivers across all energy security levels. The results highlight the importance of human capital development, scientific research, policy reforms, and infrastructure investments to strengthen energy security and sustainable development in Africa.