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The report examines Indonesia's transition from universal energy subsidies to targeted Energy Safety Nets (ESNs) for electricity and LPG. While electrification rates reached 98.81% by early 2019, significant gaps persist in eastern regions like Papua and Maluku due to infrastructure deficits. The study highlights the role of the Unified Database System (BDT) in targeting beneficiaries and the success of the kerosene-to-LPG conversion program, which reached 54 million households by 2012. However, it finds that energy reforms have been primarily driven by fiscal pressure rather than universal access goals, leading to a 'left-out sub-population' in remote areas and a widening consumption gap between the rich and poor.

The report analyzes Kenya's efforts to achieve universal energy access through various 'energy safety nets' (ESNs), distinguishing between interventions for physical access (connections) and those for sustainable use (affordability). Key electricity initiatives include the Slum Electrification Project (SEP), the Last Mile Connectivity Project (LMCP), and the Lifeline Tariff. For cooking, it reviews the Mwananchi Gas Project and the Kenya Off-grid Solar Access Project (KOSAP). The study highlights a significant gap in clean cooking access (14%) compared to electrification (64%) and argues that ESNs would be more sustainable if integrated into existing social assistance frameworks like the National Safety Net Programme (NSNP). It recommends a more precise targeting of the lifeline tariff, increased gender mainstreaming, and the adoption of results-based financing to optimize costs and impact.

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 assesses Ghana's energy safety nets, finding that while programs like the National Electrification Scheme and Solar PV initiatives have significantly increased physical access, most lack precise targeting of the poor. The Lifeline Tariff is the only program that explicitly targeted the poor, though it faced challenges with meter sharing and inefficient appliances. The study recommends transitioning to means-testing and improving public education to ensure energy services reach the most vulnerable.

The guide outlines a five-stage process map for building energy safety nets: Threshold, Planning, Resources, Implementation, and Evaluation. It guides policymakers through identifying eligible populations, selecting delivery mechanisms for electricity or clean cooking (covering both capital costs and ongoing consumption), determining necessary financial and administrative resources, establishing government partnerships for deployment, and creating monitoring plans to ensure program sustainability.

The document examines the heightened vulnerability of Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand during the Covid-19 pandemic and previous disasters, such as the 2004 tsunami and 2011 floods. It identifies root causes of this vulnerability, including discriminatory labour laws, precarious living conditions, and limited social protection. While the pandemic saw some pragmatic, inclusive measures—such as universal health access and visa amnesties—the brief argues that these should be institutionalized. It recommends a human-rights-based, multi-hazard approach to DRR that involves migrants in hazard mapping, provides multilingual communication, and streamlines social security access to build broader societal resilience.

The position paper criticizes the Indonesian government's decision to deactivate the BPJS health insurance status of approximately 11–13.5 million PBI (Contribution Assistance Recipients) members starting February 1, 2026. The author contends that this policy, justified as data updating, is a systemic violation of constitutional health rights and a failure of governance. The document highlights a contradiction where the state expands high-risk industries (like coal and nickel) that increase health burdens while simultaneously cutting health safety nets. It further argues that the government prioritizes 'political image' and 'lighthouse programs'—such as energy transition and global peace contributions—over the basic health needs of the poor, as evidenced by budget allocations that far exceed the PBI health budget. The paper concludes with recommendations for a moratorium on deactivations, financing reform, and industrial accountability for health impacts.