The report provides an in-depth analysis of how Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) and Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms shape Africa’s energy future. Using empirical data, the report shows how the majority of export finance still flows to fossil fuel projects, creating a risk of carbon lock-in that could undermine the continent’s climate goals. It also highlights how legal protections under investment treaties can make it harder for governments to transition away from fossil fuels without facing costly disputes. In addition, the report examines the barriers that prevent ECAs from scaling up support for renewable energy, drawing on interviews with ECA experts to understand how risk perceptions and current practices limit clean energy investments.

By combining financial data, legal analysis, and expert insights, the report offers practical recommendations to align export finance and investment law with Africa’s clean energy transition and sustainable development priorities.