The framework entails establishment of rural energy access authorities and energy access funds, both at the national and regional levels, to be empowered with enabling regulatory policies, capital resources and the support of multi-stakeholder partnership.
So far, the data do not indicate that funding levels and energy access needs are being logically or consistently deployed.
We know that funds spent on energy access have far-reaching impacts not only for economic growth and development, but also on the quality of life, economic empowerment of rural communities, on women, and on a reduced pressure on the local ecosystems that are critical to human and ecological health.
The International Energy Agency has proposed that 60percentt of the funds needed to achieve energy access for all should go to local renewable energy projects.
In late 2016, Duke University received $2.25 million in funding for a university-wide energy access project, including a $1.5 million gift from Jim and his wife M.A. Rogers as well as $750,000 in matching funds from the Bass Connections Challenge.
As if to top off the divergent paths these two agencies are on, OPIC shined at the lackluster Rio+20 conference as perhaps the only institution to pony up new funds for off-grid clean energy access.
And today, the UK Department for International Development announced its plans to fund Power for All, a campaign dedicated to delivering universal energy access by 2030.
For others, climate change mitigation funding represents a golden opportunity to get cash for energy access projects.
They believe that because OPIC's policy theoretically restricts funding large fossil fuel projects, the policy precludes expanding energy access.
The World Bank, which is funded through tax dollars from the US and other countries, is well placed to address energy access.
