Enabling the Ecosystem for Energy Access Investment in Fragile/Displacement settings.

The Global Platform for Action (GPA) convened a multi-sectoral workshop to tackle a critical challenge: how do we build the ecosystem required to increase energy investment in fragile and displacement settings? Partners from government, displaced communities, energy companies, financiers and donors, and humanitarian and development partners joined, leading to a powerful discussion on how to move forward as a collective. 

The message from our partners was clear: it is time to move away from isolated, small-scale projects toward coordinated, large-scale delivery programmes that stimulate local development and reduce aid dependency.

Key Takeaways & Actions to bring forward:

• Defining the Opportunity: We are developing context-specific archetypes and replicable blueprints (building on models like Kenya’s KISEDP) to help investors navigate different displacement settings and connect investment opportunities with large-scale funding, such as through the World Bank’s ASCENT programme and other regional financing available.
• A Shared Language: To align actions, we are establishing a common Market-Based Systems Framework that outlines a clear pathway from humanitarian aid to sustainable, market-driven systems. This needs to be place-based to get all around common area-based energy access masterplans to move in same directions as public and private sector partners.
• Empowering Local Leaders: We are prioritizing support for Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs) and local SMEs through technical assistance, smaller ticket sizes, and de-risking mechanisms to bridge the "valley of death" in financing.
• Innovative Finance: Scaling models like Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) for humanitarian operations and institutions, and leveraging carbon finance to improve affordability for households.
• Actionable Planning: Moving beyond "shopping lists" to help local governments operationalise Integrated Energy Plans that align with national strategies - reducing duplication and enabling scale up of investment that we have not yet seen to date. 

A huge thank you to the diverse group of governments, humanitarian agencies, private sector innovators, and funders who joined us to co-create these solutions. We are shifting from silos to collaboration, as together we will go farther than alone.

A special thanks to our co-organisers Mercy Corps, Ashden, NORCAP, Practical Action, Access to Energy Institute (A2EI), UNHCR, Energy Peace Partners, Energy Savings Trust and UNDP; and donors EU-ECHO, IKEA Foundation, NORCAP and TEA Platform - for supporting this.