Improving energy access in Africa can have a tremendous impact on other sectors, particularly when it comes to water supply, agriculture, and forestry. Moreover, it can stimulate local economies and trigger social change. However for this potential to be harnessed an effort should be made to increase coordination and cooperation at different levels. This Policy Brief includes key messages for policy makers and investors who play a role in Africa’s energy transition at continental, national, and local scale, with specific reference to three promising energy solutions (multipurpose hydropower, solar pumps, and efficient cookstoves).