ACCESS Coalition Strategy
Strategic Priorities (2025-2030)
The decade to 2030 is Africa’s critical window to achieve SDG7 and secure universal, affordable, and clean energy within a just transition. Following COP28’s global pledge to triple renewables and double efficiency, the focus must now shift from ambition to implementation.
ACCESS is working to ensure energy access is not a by-product of the global transition, but a driving force for social justice, gender equality, and climate resilience.
Reshaping Energy Access Finance
ACCESS will advocate for reforms within multilateral development banks (MDBs) to prioritize decentralized renewable energy (DRE) and clean cooking.
Working with institutions such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank, the coalition will push for more concessional, results-based, and locally accessible financing models.
Through policy engagement platforms and independent finance tracking, ACCESS will strengthen accountability and ensure climate finance delivers for the energy poor.
Advancing Inclusive and Pro-Decentralization Policies
ACCESS will promote coherent national and regional policies that integrate DRE and clean cooking into core energy strategies.
Using data-driven tools and policy dialogue, the coalition will work with governments and regional bodies to simplify regulations, harmonize standards, and embed gender equality and social inclusion into energy frameworks.
The goal: make decentralized renewables central to electrification and climate strategies across Africa.
Promoting Integrated, Cross-Sectoral Energy Planning
Energy access must go beyond connections to transform livelihoods.
ACCESS will advocate for cross-sectoral planning that links energy to agriculture, enterprise development, health, and gender equality. By promoting proven models and least-cost planning tools that account for social and economic benefits, the coalition will help governments design programs that deliver inclusive growth and resilience.
Institutionalizing Civil Society Participation and Accountability
ACCESS will strengthen civil society’s role in energy governance, ensuring communities are active participants-not passive recipients.
Through training, finance tracking, and advocacy support, member organizations will monitor affordability, inclusion, and service quality.
The coalition will also push for formal CSO engagement mechanisms, open data policies, and gender-responsive performance indicators within national and MDB energy frameworks-making accountability a standard practice in the just transition.
Our Role
Scaled-up, strategic and ongoing civil society engagement is needed to ensure:
CSO Participation
Inclusive and effective CSO participation in AfDB and national government integrated planning and decision-making;[SS1] [SR2].
CSO Engagement
Enhanced and effective CSO engagement in wider AfDB decision-making via the new CSO engagement processes at HQ and national level.
Increased Investment
Increased investments in energy access by the AfDB and client governments, particularly in DRE and clean cooking.
Support for Access
This group of key partners, members and industry leaders uses its wide range of experience and skills to support the network and lead on developing our advocacy strategy for the future. More holistic, demand-focused and data driven support for energy access by the AfDB at the HQ and at national level.
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
