Senegal’s JETP: Lessons, Challenges, Opportunities and the Role of Civil Society
The energy transition is a crucial global issue in the fight against climate change. To support countries in their decarbonization while considering social and economic impacts, Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) play a key role in facilitating this process.
At COP29, Senegal confirmed its commitment to a JETP estimated at €2.5 billion, currently in the development phase. Its success relies on inclusive and transparent governance, where the active participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) and local communities is essential.
In collaboration with Oxfam, the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Foundation, Natural Justice, the African Climate Foundation, and the Global Strategic Communications Council, NRGI contributed to the creation of PACTEJ, a platform to strengthening the capacities of CSOs and communities for their involvement in the JETP. In September 2024, NRGI organized a webinar with over 80 participants from various countries, led by experts such as Abraham Octam Halim, Jacob Blessing Motsh Manale, Fatima Diallo and Awa Ndione Sène. This event facilitated the exchange of international experiences, particularly from South Africa and Indonesia, and drew valuable lessons for Senegal.
These lessons demonstrate that the involvement of CSOs is crucial for protecting community rights, monitoring resource management, and ensuring accountability from decision-makers. In this blog post we highlight the evolution of JETPs on a global scale and aims to enrich public debate in Senegal, drawing inspiration from successes and challenges faced elsewhere.
The evolution of the JETP and its importance
The evolution of Senegal’s JETP in the global context
JETPs are being implemented in four countries: South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam and Senegal, with a total committed funding of approximately $46.5 billion. Each country tailors this mechanism to its energy and socio-economic priorities for a just energy transition.
In South Africa, where coal dominates 84.63 percent of electricity production, the JETP aims for a gradual coal phase-out. In Indonesia, with 61.55 percent coal and 17 percent gas in the energy mix, the goal is to increase the share of renewable energy while supporting affected communities. In Senegal, the focus is on the rapid development of renewable energy to avoid over-reliance on natural gas.
For Senegal, a future gas producer, the JETP represents a crucial opportunity to prevent a “gas lock-in” that could lead to high energy costs, increased dependence and less sustainable energy. Prioritizing renewable energy is essential to ensure a responsible transition, supporting both communities and a sustainable economic transformation.
The importance of the JETP for Senegal
The JETP offers Senegal the opportunity to achieve 40 percent renewable energy in its energy mix by 2030. This partnership, signed on 2 June 2023, with G7 partners (Canada, the EU, France, Germany and the U.K.), mobilizes €2.5 billion over 3 to 5 years.
A structured governance body has been established, including a steering committee (COPIL) led by the Ministry of Energy, a coordination unit (UC), and working groups on governance, equity, finance and technology. Key developments include public consultations, the creation of an investment plan with the Tony Blair Institute, and strategic deliverables on the energy transition.
However, challenges remain: the validation of deliverables, the integration of projects into the plan, strengthening the capacity of the coordination unit (UC), and finalizing the investment plan. Regional workshops are planned to raise awareness among communities.
PACTEJ could identify key priorities such as access to affordable energy for vulnerable populations, promoting transparency in project selection, assessing the relevance of selection criteria, and protecting the rights of workers and affected communities.
CSOs, through the PACTEJ platform, play a critical role in ensuring a just transition by promoting transparency, inclusion, and the protection of the rights of workers and communities. However, G7 partners have warned against unrealistic expectations, emphasizing that the JETP will not resolve all of Senegal’s energy challenges.
Lessons from the South African and Indonesian experiences
South Africa, a pioneer of the JETP with a $8.5 billion partnership signed in 2021 with quite an ambitious investment plan, illustrates the challenges of a just transition. The funding, mostly in the form of loans, remains insufficient compared to the estimated $95 billion needed. The hasty closure of power plants has led to significant social and economic impacts, exacerbated by tensions with trade unions and limited stakeholder consultation.
Indonesia, with a $20 billion JETP signed in 2022, offers a more inclusive approach. With a clear investment plan, it has established transparent governance platform, organized over 200 consultations with stakeholders, engaged more than 100 CSOs, and mobilized both public and private funds for renewable energy projects. However, bureaucratic obstacles are slowing down project implementation.
These experiences highlight the importance of participatory and equitable management for a successful transition. The involvement of local communities, illustrated by the slogan “nothing about us without us,” is central. Initiatives like “Fair Finance” in South Africa offer valuable lessons for Senegal and the PACTEJ platform. However, the representative of the G7 partners group warned against unrealistic expectations of the JETP, emphasizing that it will not solve all the challenges Senegal faes on its own.
The role of Senegalese CSOs in the JETP process
As part of the JETP, Senegalese CSOs, grouped within the PACTEJ platform, along with trade unions and community organizations, play a key role in raising awareness among communities and fostering inclusive dialogue with the government.
However, they regret their late involvement, which has been limited to the post-negotiation phase, and highlight major challenges: access to information, the involvement of local authorities, private sector support, and community awareness.
The funding model, which includes only 6.6 percent in grants and primarily consists of loans, raises concerns about increasing public debt. CSOs are calling for transparent management of funds to prevent corruption and ensure direct benefits for vulnerable populations.
| Countries | South Africa | Indonesia | Senegal |
| Composition of financing | 4% in the form of grants 63% in the form of concessional loans 33% in the form of commercial loans and guarantees | Not yet published | 6.6% in the form of grants 69.2% in the form of concessional loans 1.8% in the form of market-rate loans, 12%, and the rest in the form of standard loans or grants |
Source: Navigating Just Energy Transition Together – Shared learnings from South Africa, Indonesia, and Vietnam, June 2023
CSOs, through PACTEJ, are now actively participating in the COPIL and the “Justice and Equity” group of the JETP. They call for a genuine consideration of their contributions in decision-making and for projects that compensate for the impacts of fossil fuels, while promoting local content.
For the success of the JETP in Senegal, an inclusive approach is essential. This requires fully involving communities, local authorities, CSOs, women and youth, ensuring transparency, strengthening local capacities, integrating gender issues, and simplifying administrative procedures. Such an approach would ensure a truly fair and inclusive energy transition.
