Africa is at the start of a steep motorization curve. Increasing numbers of imported internal combustion vehicles are leading to rising oil imports, air pollution and transport emissions. The transition to electric mobility offers an opportunity to reverse this trend while creating new industrial and economic opportunities.
In Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa, the shift to electric mobility is already underway, but gaps in policy, regulation, consumer awareness, skills, investment and coordination remain. Similar challenges exist across the regions, giving the three countries an opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation, harmonisation efforts and outreach.
The project will enable an earlier and faster electrification of the transport sector in Sub-Saharan Africa compared to a business-as-usual-scenario, leading to more energy efficiency and making higher shares of renewable energy in transport possible.
LEAP supports the development and implementation of national e-mobility policies, regulations and investment instruments in Kenya, Senegal and South Africa. These will cover five key areas: (1) raw material availability, (2) industry transformation or development, (3) market development and uptake, (4) convenient use and infrastructure for electric vehicles, and (5) circular economy practices. The approach is tailored to the priorities of each country and coordinated with other relevant projects and initiatives.
In Kenya, the focus is on developing an EV industry, particularly for heavy duty vehicles such as buses and trucks, while building on the country’s growing start-up industry. Senegal is laying the foundations for e-mobility uptake in a market characterized by relatively low motorisation and limited existing vehicle assembly capacity. In South Africa, attention is directed towards the transformation of the established automotive industry as domestic and international demand shifts towards electric vehicles.
A successful transition to e-mobility depends on an inclusive workforce and entrepreneurial ecosystem. For this, LEAP activities focus on strengthening networks, initiatives and skills development pathways for women, while supporting gender-responsive practices in policy dialogue, the private sector and education systems. Women-led or women-centred start-ups and initiatives in the e-mobility ecosystem are supported by backing business ideas that foster job creation and provide new services which contribute to sustainable structures that enable women’s participation and access to employment opportunities in the emerging e-mobility sector.
Through the Think Tank Accelerator programme, LEAP strengthens the institutional capacities of African think tanks to generate independent in-depth analytical knowledge on e-mobility and climate-neutral transport pathways. Their research provides evidence to inform policy and strategic recommendations on electric mobility to national governments, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and continental institutions such as the African Union (AU).
By supporting African countries to establish regionally harmonised, climate-ambitious, and gender-responsive e-mobility policy frameworks, LEAP helps create the enabling environment for electric vehicle markets to grow. Stronger policy implementation and enforcement can facilitate cross-border transport and mobility and unlock investments into local manufacturing to meet growing demand across African markets.
LEAP facilitates peer-to-peer learning and international dialogue between African countries, the African Union and European partners, strengthening Africa’s engagement in the global transition to electric mobility. By bringing African perspectives, industrial priorities and policy experience into international discussions, the project contributes to greater continental coordination and stronger global engagement.
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