TIE Affiliation

Environmental Research Fellowship

Research

Attracting investments to build an energy system compatible with the Paris Agreement remains a challenge for African governments. This has left Africa’s clean energy sources grossly underdeveloped. Despite the enormous potential for geothermal energy across Africa, only Kenya has operational geothermal power stations in Africa. Like Kenya, Ethiopia is making strategic inroads with geothermal energy as three ongoing projects at a total capacity of 305MW are set to be operational by 2023. Limited scholarly research has, however, investigated the geothermal success of Kenya and Ethiopia. Using causal process tracing and comparative analysis methodologies, this study will unpack the investment trends, actors, forms, and the factors that have influenced the success of geothermal energy in Kenya and Ethiopia to identify whether the trends in Kenya and Ethiopia provide policy lessons for other developing countries aiming to explore their geothermal resources.

Experience

Seth is a Ph.D. candidate at the Fletcher School in the Center for International Environment and Resource Policy and the Climate Policy Lab. He expects to finish his studies in May 2025. Prior to Tufts, he worked with a policy think tank managing and leading policy advocacy programs on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Ghana. Seth engaged both state and non-state actors in policy dialogues and conferences to develop strategies for implementing SDG 7 (Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure) and SDG 13 (Climate Change) in Ghana. He further worked with government agencies to transform these strategies to into action plans. At Tufts, Seth is a member of several clubs and organizations, including the Fletcher Forum of World Affairs, the Fletcher Africana Club, and the Fletcher Energy Club.

Current Studies and Future Goals

When asked what he found most meaningful about her field of study, Seth responded with the following: “My current field of study empowers me to engage in problem-driven research which does not only focus on contributing or filling gaps in the academic literature, but also addressing and finding policy solutions to existing environmental, climate change, and clean energy challenges and difficulties affecting developing and emerging economies."

When asked what interested him in becoming a TIE Fellow, Seth responded with the following: "The interdisciplinary component of the TIE fellowship attracted me to program. The platform to work and learn from at least two mentors from different disciplines is a rare opportunity to come by. The TIE fellowship thus affords me the opportunity to synthesize knowledge and ideas from different disciplines for my research and to find policy related solutions to environmental problems."

After Tufts, Seth aspires to a career in teaching, energy policy consultancy, and evidence-based research that informs national and international policies consistent with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the energy transition.

Fun Facts!

When not doing school work, Seth enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, and watching soccer.

Favorite movie/TV show: Shark Tank

Favorite place you've visited: Germany

Favorite team: Liverpool FC