Social Licence to Operate in African Energy Projects: Masterclass Replay

Watch the full replay of our masterclass on the social licence to operate in Africa’s energy megaprojects, and learn how developers secure and maintain the support of communities and stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.

Why social licence to operate matters for energy projects in Africa

Across Africa, renewables, grid expansion, gas development and critical minerals projects are accelerating. Yet regulatory approvals and financial close no longer guarantee success. Without the support of communities, local authorities, landowners, traditional leaders, civil society and lenders, even well-funded energy projects can face delays, opposition, reputational damage and rising costs.

The social licence to operate is more than a communications concept: it is the practical foundation of project resilience. It is built through legitimacy, trust, procedural fairness, credible stakeholder engagement and benefit-sharing, and it must be maintained from feasibility to operations.

What you will learn in this masterclass

• What social licence to operate means in practice, and how it differs from legal permitting
• The main social risks in energy projects: land access, resettlement, compensation, human rights, lender expectations and community opposition
• Practical stakeholder engagement tools: stakeholder mapping, grievance mechanisms, co-design, benefit-sharing and social performance governance
• How to measure trust and track social risk over time
• Lessons from African case studies of resistance, course correction and leading practice

Social risk and project bankability

Lenders, NGOs, media and affected communities are scrutinising energy and infrastructure projects more closely than ever. Social risk is now a material factor in bankability, and developers are expected to align with international standards on land, livelihoods, Indigenous rights, grievance management and human rights due diligence.

As Africa’s energy transition gathers pace, social performance has become a core condition for delivery, legitimacy and long-term value creation.

Watch the replay and explore the series

This masterclass is part of our wider programme on Africa’s energy future. Continue with our webinar on energy sovereignty in Africa: navigating global pressures and local ambitions, from the Fair Energy Transition Series 2026, or browse all our energy masterclasses and webinars on YouTube.

For more insight on the subject, download the full presentation.