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The 'Cooling for All' initiative, launched in 2017 by Sustainable Energy for All and supported by the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program, seeks to integrate growing cooling demands into a clean energy transition. The initiative aims to align the Paris Climate Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. To achieve this, a Global Panel on Access to Cooling has been established to produce an evidence-based report by 2018 focusing on sustainable cooling for the poorest countries. The initiative highlights the risk of locking countries into high-carbon cooling pathways and the potential to avoid 1°C of global warming by combining HFC phase-downs with energy efficiency gains.

The report argues that digital payments are critical for achieving Sustainable Development Goal #7 (universal energy access) by reducing the high costs and risks associated with cash-based collections. It identifies three primary barriers: the financial unviability of grid extension in rural areas, high upfront costs for clean-energy assets, and a lack of private investment. The document proposes solutions such as bundling prepaid smart meters with digital payments, implementing pay-as-you-go (PAYGo) financing for solar home systems, and digitizing energy subsidies to reduce leakages. Case studies from South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, India, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia illustrate how these digital tools improve utility profitability, expand renewable energy reach, and enhance financial inclusion for low-income households.

The document highlights that top-performing countries in energy access utilize a complementary mix of grids, mini-grids, and stand-alone systems. It identifies utility creditworthiness and high connection costs, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, as significant barriers to expanding electricity networks.

The document reports that in 2014, 80% of people without electricity lived in 20 high-impact countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, primarily in rural areas. It warns that progress in Sub-Saharan Africa is not keeping pace with population growth, with projections suggesting 80% of the 780 million people still without power in 2030 will be in that region. Achieving universal tier 5 energy access by 2030 would require increasing annual finance five-fold to approximately $50 billion.

The document highlights a strong correlation between high energy efficiency scores in the RISE index and high rankings in the Ease of Doing Business among the top twenty high-impact countries. It identifies dedicated entities and specific measures like minimum energy performance standards and building codes as essential for implementing energy efficiency, while noting that Nigeria exhibits both low energy efficiency scores and a low Doing Business rank.

The report by KPMG Austria GmbH concludes that the financial statements of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) for the period ending 31 December 2016 present fairly its financial position and performance. The audit confirms compliance with voluntarily applied Austrian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and the organization's statutes. During 2016, SEforALL transitioned from a UN initiative to an independent International Non-Governmental Organization with 'Quasi-International Organization' status in Austria. Financially, the organization reported total revenue of €162,949.48 and total expenses of €162,949.48, resulting in a net operating income of zero. The report also details the organization's new Strategic Framework for Results (2016-2021) and its formal relationship agreement with the United Nations.

The document provides a detailed analysis of energy access and efficiency across high-impact countries, highlighting a significant gap between urban and rural electrification and the critical role of enabling policy frameworks. It reports that 3.04 billion people lacked clean cooking access in 2014 and 1.06 billion lacked electricity. While some countries like India, Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda show strong policy support for energy access, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the least electrified region with underdeveloped policy environments. The report also examines energy efficiency and renewable energy, noting that while renewable energy targets are nearly universal, energy efficiency mandates often lag, particularly in developing nations.

The report finds that current finance flows for decentralized energy access are insufficient to meet national targets, with a particularly severe gap in the clean cooking sector. While enterprises in Kenya and Bangladesh show some success through PAYGO models and local currency debt, most others rely heavily on equity and grants. Key barriers include high collateral requirements, currency volatility, and a lack of local debt for SMEs.

The 2017 Global Tracking Framework reports that the world is not on track to meet its 2030 sustainable energy goals. While energy efficiency is closest to the required pace, electrification and clean cooking access are lagging, particularly in Africa. Renewable energy shares are increasing but remain far below the 36% target. The report emphasizes that current policy commitments and technology trends are insufficient, calling for a significant increase in global investment across all three pillars.

The report identifies a diverse but fragmented ecosystem of 174 initiatives aiming to integrate gender diversity and social inclusion into the sustainable energy transition. While significant activity exists—particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia—the sector is hindered by a lack of multi-year funding, limited technical capacity among women, and restrictive social norms. The document argues that empowering women is a catalyst for energy access, noting that women influence 80% of household energy purchasing decisions, and calls for a shift toward rights-based approaches and strategic cross-sector partnerships to achieve universal energy access by 2030.

The 3rd Sustainable Energy for All Forum served as a marketplace for leaders to broker partnerships and mobilize finance to achieve universal energy access. A central feature was the launch of the third Global Tracking Framework (GTF) report, which indicated that the world is not on track to meet 2030 targets for electricity access, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. The event highlighted the need for increased investment—specifically a 2-3 fold increase for renewables and a 3-6 fold increase for energy efficiency—and showcased various financial innovations, such as Results-Based Financing (RBF) and the Microgrid Investment Accelerator. The Forum also emphasized the critical roles of gender equality, digitalization, and decentralized energy systems in reaching the most vulnerable populations, particularly in Africa and Latin America.

The report finds that development finance for energy access is poorly targeted and inefficiently disbursed, with a significant gap between financial commitments and actual on-the-ground implementation, particularly in high-impact countries.

The report finds that current financial commitments for energy access are significantly below the levels required to meet 2030 universal access goals. For electricity, annual commitments averaged $19.4 billion, far short of the estimated $45 billion needed, with 90% of funds targeting centralized grid infrastructure. Clean cooking investment is critically low, averaging only $32 million per year against a minimum estimated need of $4.4 billion. The analysis highlights a heavy reliance on international public finance and a significant gap in tracking domestic private investment.

The report finds that finance flows to decentralized energy access enterprises are significantly lower than required to meet national targets, with a particularly severe gap in the clean cooking sector. While some markets like Kenya are dynamic due to PAYGO models and mobile money, others like Ethiopia and Myanmar struggle with severe foreign exchange restrictions and a heavy reliance on grants. Across all five countries, high collateral requirements from banks and currency volatility are primary barriers to obtaining debt. The study estimates that annual finance needs for Tiers 1-3 energy access in these five countries are approximately $3.97 billion, while the total estimated cost for meeting clean cooking targets through 2030 across four of the countries is $18.44 billion per year.

The report finds that finance for energy access is significantly below the levels required to meet SDG 7 by 2030. While electricity commitments averaged $19.4 billion annually in 2013-14, this is far short of the estimated $45 billion needed. Clean cooking finance is described as 'shockingly low', averaging only $32 million per year for residential use. The analysis highlights a heavy bias toward grid-connected infrastructure and a critical lack of funding for decentralized solutions, which receive only 1% of electricity finance. It recommends integrated policy approaches, the scaling of market-based clean cooking strategies, and the removal of financial barriers for small energy enterprises.

The report identifies 'high-impact' countries critical to achieving universal sustainable energy access. It highlights that 85% of people lacking clean cooking fuels live in 20 high-impact countries and 80% of those without electricity reside in 20 high-impact nations, primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. While some countries like India, Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda have enabling policy environments, many others lack the regulatory frameworks and creditworthy utilities needed to attract investment. The report also notes that global energy efficiency improvements (2.1% annually in 2012-14) are below the 2.6% target, and doubling the renewable energy share in the global mix by 2030 requires a rise from 18.3% to 36% of Total Final Energy Consumption.

The 2017 Annual Monitoring Review evaluates SEforALL's efforts to drive Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) through work streams including Energy Efficiency First, Leave No One Behind, and Sustainable Energy Diplomacy. While the organization demonstrated strength in intervention design and target audience engagement, it faced challenges related to resource capacity, staffing constraints, and internal communication, which occasionally impacted delivery timelines and post-launch engagement.

The report introduces the Energy Access Dividend (EAD) framework to help policymakers quantify the benefits of rapid electrification. By analyzing Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Kenya, it demonstrates that decentralized renewable energy can provide faster access than centralized grids, leading to significant household savings, increased study time for children, and reduced carbon and black carbon emissions. The model links these dividends to the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), arguing that delays in energy access result in lost investments in human and economic development.

The SEforALL Strategic Framework for Results (2016-21) establishes a partnership-based delivery model to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 7 and the Paris Agreement. The framework focuses on empowering leaders to broker partnerships and unlock finance, utilizing 'heat maps' to prioritize engagement in high-impact countries. Key priorities include an 'energy efficiency first' approach, scaling up renewables through IRENA's REmap, and ensuring a people-centered transition that prioritizes women and the energy poor. The global team is transitioning into a Quasi-International Organization headquartered in Vienna to improve operational efficiency and governance.

The Secretary-General emphasizes the overwhelming global support for the Paris Agreement and calls for a radical transformation of the global economy. He highlights the pivotal roles of the United States and China, the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships across six high-value areas, and the need to accelerate the scale of climate response to mitigate rising temperatures and extreme weather.