Fair Energy Transition - Masterclass 2026

Social Licence to Power: How to secure the engagement of stakeholders in mega energy projects in Africa

A practical masterclass on dialogue, co-creation and shared impact in Africa’s energy megaprojects.
Join our exclusive Masterclass 

Across Africa, energy megaprojects are accelerating, driven by renewables, grid expansion, gas development and the broader push for energy security and industrial growth. Yet regulatory approvals and financial close are no longer enough to secure project success: without the support of communities, local authorities, landowners, traditional leaders, civil society and lenders, even well-funded projects can face delay, resistance, reputational damage and rising costs. 

That is why the social licence to operate has become a strategic issue. More than a communications concept, it is the practical foundation of project resilience. It is built through legitimacy, trust, procedural fairness, credible engagement, benefit-sharing and the ability to respond to stakeholder concerns throughout the full project lifecycle. 

Join our exclusive Masterclass 

This masterclass will provide a strategic and operational understanding of how to secure and maintain stakeholder support in complex African energy projects. It will explore why some projects lose trust despite strong institutional backing, while others build durable stakeholder relationships through early engagement, transparent governance, meaningful consultation and tangible shared value. 

What participants will learn 

• Understand the concept: what social licence to operate means in practice, how it differs from legal permitting, and why it matters for project delivery. 

• Identify the pressure points: land access, resettlement, compensation, human rights, lender expectations, local political dynamics and community opposition. 

• Master the practical levers: stakeholder mapping, grievance mechanisms, co-design, benefit-sharing, social performance governance and adaptive engagement. 

• Measure and sustain buy-in: how to assess trust, track social risk and maintain legitimacy over time. 

• Draw lessons from African case studies: concrete examples of resistance, course correction and leading practice across the continent. 

Why Now? 

Stakeholder expectations around energy and infrastructure projects are rising across Africa, while lenders, NGOs, media and affected communities are scrutinising projects more closely than ever. Social risk is now a material issue for project bankability, and developers are increasingly expected to align with international standards on land, livelihoods, Indigenous rights, grievance management and human rights due diligence. 

At the same time, Africa’s energy transition is accelerating through renewables, grid infrastructure, gas and critical minerals development. In this context, social performance is no longer a peripheral issue; it is a core condition for delivery, legitimacy and long-term value creation.