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The report finds that while electricity financing in 20 high-potential countries rose by 56% to $30.2 billion annually between 2013-2014 and 2015-2016, this remains far below the $52 billion needed for universal access by 2030. Financing is heavily skewed toward non-residential consumers and grid-connected technologies, with a concerning increase in fossil fuel investments, particularly coal. Sub-Saharan Africa faces a widening investment gap, receiving only 17% of total electricity funding. Meanwhile, clean cooking financing declined by 5% to $30 million, a fraction of the $4.4 billion required annually.

The report finds that global finance for energy access is insufficient, with electricity commitments reaching only half of the required USD 52 billion annually and clean cooking funding declining to USD 30 million. While electricity finance increased to USD 30.2 billion in 20 high-impact countries, it is heavily concentrated in Asia, particularly India, while Sub-Saharan Africa sees declining investments and a shift toward fossil fuels. Clean cooking remains severely underfunded, relying heavily on international grants. Case studies highlight India's success in mobilizing private finance for renewables and Indonesia's use of government subsidies to scale LPG adoption.

The report examines 25 initiatives across Brazil, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, and Mexico to determine how social assistance can bridge the gap between market prices and what the poor can afford for energy. It distinguishes between support for physical connections and ongoing consumption, finding that while many programs successfully increase connection rates, they often fail to ensure sustainable consumption due to poor targeting, lack of data on actual energy needs, and the volatility of fuel prices. The study highlights the potential of integrating energy support into unified social registries to improve targeting and delivery.

The report evaluates Malawi's progress toward clean cooking goals, highlighting a significant gap between current ownership and 2030 targets. It identifies affordability and low stove durability as primary barriers, estimating a $108.8M investment needed for the Compact scenario and $246.0M for the more ambitious IEP scenario. The IEP scenario envisions a total phase-out of fuelwood and charcoal by leveraging universal electrification for e-cooking and expanding biofuels. The report emphasizes the need for durable stoves, innovative financing, and regional strategies, particularly in the Northern region, to reduce health risks and gender-based time burdens associated with fuel collection.

The Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) Global Facilitation Team (GFT) was established in July 2013 to catalyze the achievement of three 2030 targets: universal energy access, doubling energy efficiency, and doubling the share of renewable energy. In its first six months, the GFT established its office in Vienna, formed four Advisory Board Committees (Finance, Energy Access, Energy Efficiency, and Renewable Energy), and engaged 83 developing countries. Financial reports as of December 31, 2013, show total contributions of US$ 4,745,456 from Denmark and Sweden, with an overall expenditure delivery rate of 23%.

The report highlights the critical energy gap in Africa, where 565 million people lack electricity and 900 million lack clean cooking solutions. It proposes that governments allocate up to 25% of recovery budgets to renewables and localize 30% of the value chain to stimulate GDP and job creation. The document details the socio-economic benefits of sustainable energy in health, agriculture, and gender equality, while providing a framework of eight catalysts—including the removal of fossil fuel subsidies and the implementation of cost-reflective tariffs—to accelerate the transition, using India as a successful comparative example.

The report highlights a critical 'data deficit' in the energy sector, where the lack of sex-disaggregated data reinforces male-oriented policymaking and hinders the achievement of SDG7. It identifies systemic barriers to women's participation in the energy workforce—where they represent only 32% of the renewable energy sector—and the disproportionate impact of energy poverty on women and girls. The document provides a framework for designing gender indicators, emphasizing the need for both supply-side (employment/leadership) and demand-side (consumer preferences/household decision-making) metrics. It concludes with best practices for national policymakers, statistical offices, and international organizations to strengthen data capacity, particularly in low-income countries.

The study found that EPCs significantly displaced charcoal use, particularly for breakfast, and reduced mean charcoal consumption per capita per event by 30%. While the overall daily cost of cooking remained stable at approximately RWF 388 (USD 0.34), users experienced a median meal preparation time saving of 14 minutes. Most participants preferred monthly payment plans and reported high satisfaction, though the limitation of having only one cooking pot was a primary challenge.

The audit report for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) for the 2024 fiscal year concludes that the financial statements present a true and fair view of the organization's assets and financial performance in accordance with Austrian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and the Austrian Association Act. The organization reported total income of $47,793,073 and total expenses of $47,869,500. A significant institutional transition is underway, with SEforALL moving from a Quasi-International Organisation (QIO) to a program hosted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The audit also notes a legal risk regarding a former employee's claim to establish an employment relationship with the association.

Sierra Leone's Energy Transition and Green Growth Plan outlines a Low Carbon Development (LCD) scenario to reach 100% electrification and clean cooking access by 2040. The plan emphasizes a shift from fossil fuel dependency—particularly diesel in mining and transport—toward hydropower and solar PV. Key targets include expanding power capacity to 4.5 GW by 2050 and integrating the mining sector into the national grid by 2030. The transition is estimated to require approximately 39 billion USD in total capital investment by 2050, with the transport sector accounting for the largest share. The plan also integrates social objectives, such as the 'Feed Salone' strategy for food security and the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act (GEWE) to ensure a just transition for women and youth.

Under the leadership of Damilola Ogunbiyi, SEforALL has shifted from awareness-raising to a data-driven engagement model prioritizing high-impact countries. Key initiatives include the Universal Energy Facility, a results-based financing vehicle aiming for 1 million connections by 2023, and the development of investment-grade policy frameworks and universal integrated energy plans. The report also details high-level diplomatic engagements across the G20, UN, and various governments to mobilize resources and align global efforts toward universal energy access and clean cooking.

The report evaluates the extent to which gender considerations are embedded in national energy policies and the corporate practices of energy companies. It utilizes a scoring system to analyze female participation, economic empowerment, education, and labor rights across different income levels and energy sectors, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and electrification.

The report examines the impact of improved cookstoves in Central America, noting that while many stoves reduce emissions, they often fail to meet WHO air quality guidelines for personal exposure. It identifies user-centered design, training, and financing as critical for adoption, while highlighting a lack of longitudinal data on sustained use.

Minutes from a February 2012 seminar in New Delhi, organized by TERI, the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), and DFID, focusing on the challenges of clean cookstove dissemination, consumer choice, and market development in India.

The report outlines seven key transformations—infrastructure design, service provision, data collection, urban employment, financing, land management, and governance—to close the urban services divide. It assigns specific roles to city governments, national governments, civil society, the private sector, and the international community to ensure that urban growth is inclusive, climate-resilient, and sustainable.