About Us
Who We Are
The Alliance of Civil Society Organizations for Clean Energy Access.
The ACCESS Coalition consists of a range of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), both national and international. We aim to strengthen the efforts of CSOs working to deliver universal energy access. We advocate at national and regional levels for transparent and inclusive multi-stakeholder participation at all stages of energy processes.
With over 100 organizations
Founded in 2014, ACCESS is a global coalition of over 100 organizations working at the local, national, regional and international levels.
Energy needs of poor groups
We work with donors and investors to build their understanding of the energy needs of poor groups.
For civil society actors
We support the capacity building of civil society actors and relevant stakeholders, while also sharing best practice across our networks.
2014
Year Established
30+
Countries of Presence
100+
Member Organizations
10+
Year of experience
What we Do
Reshaping Energy Access Finance
ACCESS advocates for reforms within multilateral development banks (MDBs) to prioritize decentralized renewable energy (DRE) and clean cooking.
Advancing Inclusive and Pro-Decentralization Policies
ACCESS promotes coherent national and regional policies that integrate DRE and clean cooking into core energy strategies.
Promoting Integrated, Cross-Sectoral Energy Planning
Energy access must go beyond connections to transform livelihoods.
Institutionalizing Civil Society Participation and Accountability
ACCESS strengthens civil society’s role in energy governance, ensuring communities are active participants-not passive recipients.
Our Approach
Bridging Stakeholders and Communities:
Connect governments and enterprises with energy-poor communities by strengthening CSO and CBO participation at all levels.
Championing Community Needs:
Amplify evidence and lived experiences to inform financing, planning, and policy reforms toward SDG 7 and a just energy transition.
Facilitating Knowledge Exchange:
Provide a platform for members to share lessons, innovations, and best practices in energy access.
Scaling Impact and Influence:
Grow funding and membership to expand regional reach, strengthen policy influence, and enable replication across countries.
Who We Are
Our Mission
Our mission is to advocate for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 7) to ensure everyone has access to safe, reliable and affordable energy, and for environmentally sustainable and efficient energy systems globally
Who We Are
Our Vision and Values
Our vision is a world where everyone has access to reliable, affordable, safe and sustainable energy to enable inclusive and climate-resilient local development
Our work is anchored in the following organizational values:
- Equity and Inclusion
- Climate and Environmental Justice
- Collaboration and Partnership
- Accountability and Transparency
- Local Leadership and Ownership
- Learning and Innovation
Our Core Values
Our Team
The Board
Meet the team that provides strategic leadership and governance to the coalition, ensuring that the Coalition remains aligned with its mission while upholding transparency, integrity, and effective stewardship.
Our Team
Advisory Group
This group uses its wide range of experience and skills to support the network and lead on developing our advocacy strategy for the future.
Our Team
The Secretariat
Our team of experienced professionals. Responsible for projects implementation and delivery of our mission.
Our Team
Membership
Our members include practitioners, civil society groups, leading international development organizations & faith-based groups. Find out more & Join as a member today!
The Role of CSOs
Achieving SDG7 on universal access to energy will require going beyond a business-as-usual approach that has largely focussed on large power infrastructure, and mobilizing new, inclusive coalitions of stakeholders. CSOs’ energy access and development expertise can be leveraged in a more effective way to deliver this. In summary, CSOs can:
Stakeholder Understanding
Improve other stakeholders’ understanding of poor groups’ energy needs, including governments, businesses and donors
Public Understanding
Build public understanding and political support for inclusive energy markets and the enabling environment reforms needed to support them.
Raise Awareness
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Design Energy Solutions
Design and deliver energy solutions with long-term development impact, working with other stakeholders such as government, private sector, donors and other development partners.
Energy & Poverty Reduction
Energy services have been shown to have greatest poverty reduction impact when integrated with wider initiatives on food security, health, education and livelihoods. This approach will also maximize delivery across the SDGs:
According to Sustainable Energy for All, current finance committed to deliver energy access globally is substantially lower than is needed and only 1% of access finance committed went to DRE. For communities near the grid, adding more power will not connect them unless political, technical and cost barriers are overcome. This includes more investment in making new connections affordable, and more research on what blends of public and private financing can deliver access to different groups, including financing approaches for delivering energy to the poorest communities where market-based approaches may not work.
