As African nations navigate the complex transition toward sustainable energy and cleaner air, the gap between high-level climate goals and technical implementation remains a critical hurdle. To bridge this divide, the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and the Climate & Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) have announced a specialized technical workshop designed to empower the continent’s policymakers and researchers with advanced energy modeling capabilities.
The upcoming LEAP training in South Africa represents more than a simple software tutorial; it is a strategic effort to localize climate planning tools across the continent. By providing hands-on experience with the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP), the program aims to enable African professionals to develop evidence-based strategies that balance economic growth with stringent environmental targets.
Scheduled to take place in Pretoria, the workshop focuses on the intersection of energy demand, emission reductions, and air quality. For many participating nations, the ability to accurately model future energy scenarios is essential for meeting commitments under the Paris Agreement and improving public health outcomes by reducing short-lived climate pollutants.
Technical Capacity Building for African Climate Goals
The core of the training centers on SEI’s LEAP software, a globally recognized tool used by governments to develop long-term energy policies and track progress toward climate targets. The workshop is specifically tailored to the African context, utilizing an open-source LEAP model that covers all 54 African nations, allowing participants to analyze regional trends and national specificities.
Beyond basic modeling, the training will introduce participants to the Impact Benefits Calculator (IBC). This specialized tool allows users to assess the co-benefits of climate action, specifically how reducing greenhouse gas emissions can simultaneously improve local air quality and reduce the burden of respiratory diseases. This dual-focus approach is vital for policymakers who must justify climate investments through immediate health and economic gains.
The curriculum is designed for a diverse cohort of professionals. The organizers are seeking applicants from energy ministries, environment agencies, universities, NGOs, utilities, and private consultancies. By bringing together these various stakeholders, the workshop fosters a collaborative ecosystem where technical data can be more effectively translated into legislative action.
Workshop Logistics and Application Details
The in-person training is scheduled for June 22–26, 2026, in Pretoria, South Africa. To ensure the highest quality of instruction and interaction, the program is limited to between 30 and 40 participants. This small group size allows for a hands-on environment where experts can provide direct guidance on complex modeling scenarios.
Recognizing the financial barriers that often hinder technical training for professionals in developing economies, the workshop is offered with no registration fee. The organizers will provide accommodation, as well as breakfast and lunch for the duration of the event. Limited travel funding is available to support selected participants traveling from outside South Africa.
Prospective applicants should note the following critical requirements and deadlines:
- Application Deadline: May 17, 2026.
- Prerequisites: No prior experience with LEAP software is required, making the program accessible to a wide range of professionals.
- Diversity Goals: The SEI and CCAC have explicitly encouraged women and non-binary professionals to apply, seeking to address the gender gap in energy and climate modeling.
Key Program Components
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Tool | Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) |
| Specialized Module | Impact Benefits Calculator (IBC) |
| Geographic Scope | 54 African Nations |
| Location | Pretoria, South Africa |
| Dates | June 22–26, 2026 |
Why Energy Modeling Matters for Africa
For many African states, the challenge of the “energy trilemma”—balancing energy security, energy equity, and environmental sustainability—is acute. Without sophisticated modeling tools, policymakers often rely on generalized projections that may not account for local infrastructure constraints or specific regional growth patterns.
The use of LEAP allows for “what-if” scenario analysis. For instance, a ministry can model the impact of transitioning a specific percentage of the national grid to solar and wind power over ten years, calculating exactly how that shift affects carbon emissions and electricity costs. When combined with the IBC, they can also quantify how many premature deaths might be avoided by reducing particulate matter from traditional biomass cooking or coal-fired power plants.
This technical empowerment is a cornerstone of the Climate & Clean Air Coalition’s (CCAC) mission. By focusing on short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) like methane and black carbon, the CCAC helps countries achieve rapid cooling effects and immediate health improvements, which provides the necessary political and social momentum for longer-term decarbonization efforts.
Practical Utility for Participants
Participants will leave the workshop not only with a certification of completion but with a functional understanding of how to maintain and update their own national energy models. This ensures that the knowledge remains within the host country’s institutions rather than relying on external consultants for every policy update.
The ability to produce high-quality, verifiable data is also crucial for securing international climate finance. Many global funds, including those tied to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), require rigorous quantitative evidence and detailed projections to approve funding for mitigation and adaptation projects.
As the May 17 deadline approaches, interested professionals are encouraged to prepare their applications by identifying the specific energy or air quality challenges within their respective agencies that they hope to address using the LEAP framework.
The next major milestone for this initiative is the closing of the application window on May 17, 2026, followed by the selection of the 30–40 participants who will convene in Pretoria this June.
Do you believe technical capacity building is the most critical step for achieving Africa’s climate goals, or should the focus remain on direct financial investment? Share your thoughts in the comments below or share this article with colleagues in the energy sector.