Aid for community-led energy
International Development Committee
Closed
Inquiry
Energy lies at the core of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Yet, the international community remains largely off track in meeting these commitments. According to the International Energy Agency, around 750 million people lack access to electricity, and more than 2 …
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16
Recommendations
16
Conclusions
1
Report
3
Oral sessions
3
Events
Activity timeline 8 events
22 Jan
2026
2026
14 Nov
2025
2025
Report published
16 Sep
2025
2025
Oral evidence
16 Sep
2025
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
24 Jun
2025
2025
Oral evidence
24 Jun
2025
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
10 Jun
2025
2025
Oral evidence
10 Jun
2025
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
16 Sep 2025
View on parliament.uk
Aid for community-led energy
Chris Taylor · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Steven Hunt · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
The Rt Hon. the Baroness Chapman of Darlington · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
24 Jun 2025
View on parliament.uk
Aid for community-led energy
Dr Kate Steel · Nithio
Dr Melita Lazell · University of Portsmouth
Juliette Keeley · Shell Foundation
Mr David Nicholson · Mercy Corps
Ms Emilie Carmichael · Energy Saving Trust
Professor Ed Brown · Loughborough University
10 Jun 2025
View on parliament.uk
Aid for community-led energy
Dr Alycia Leonard · University of Oxford
Nedjip Tozun · D.light
Sarah Roberts · Practical Action
William Kamkwamba · Moving Windmills Project
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8th Report - Empowering Development: Energy Access for Communiti… | HC 849 | 14 Nov 2025 | 32 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
13 results
2
Conclusion
Accepted
8th Report - Empowering Developmen…
Sustaining effective energy access programmes and strategically using public finance is crucial.
We welcome the leadership shown by past governments in elevating underexplored aspects of global energy access, such as clean cooking and low-energy appliances, on the global agenda. This support has delivered tangible impact. As ODA resources tighten, the UK’s impact …
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Government Response
The government partially agrees, stating that existing programmes like the TEA platform, Ayrton Fund, and British International Investment (BII) are already building linkages, improving coordination, and strategically using public finance, with an ICAI review finding good impacts from UK activities.
3
Conclusion
Accepted
8th Report - Empowering Developmen…
Protect FCDO resources for sustainable energy access amid budgetary demands and strengthen blended finance.
The FCDO should ensure that resources directed towards championing sustainable energy access are protected amid competing budgetary demands. A steady commitment to blended finance, working with the private sector and locally responsive initiatives, should seek to help overcome financing barriers …
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Government Response
The government partially agrees, stating that current programmes (TEA, MECS, Ayrton Fund, BII) already foster local partnerships, inclusion, and investment in clean energy. It notes a 2025 study on locally-led action will inform future clean energy innovation programming to ensure community voices are central.
4
Conclusion
Accepted
8th Report - Empowering Developmen…
Energy access is not centrally embedded in strategic planning and resource allocation.
Energy access is a foundational enabler of sustainable development. This should be acknowledged by embedding energy access more centrally in strategic planning and resource allocation. Evidence received by the Committee indicates that this is not currently happening, representing a missed …
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Government Response
The government agrees, stating it recognises the importance of community engagement and promotes it through inclusive models and by placing Gender, Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles at the centre of its approach. It highlights that its Centre of Expertise has developed a GEDSI toolkit now being piloted in Zambia's energy sector.
7
Recommendation
Accepted
8th Report - Empowering Developmen…
Allocate dedicated resources for community-led energy initiatives and improve project tracking system.
The Government should be more transparent about how it enables local empowerment in energy projects and devise a better system of tracking projects that are community-led. It should allocate dedicated resources to support community-led energy initiatives as key vehicles for …
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Government Response
The government partially agrees, stating it already promotes gender equality and inclusion (GEDSI) in all its ODA interventions and new UK climate programmes, in line with existing legislation and guidance. It will look to enhance communications around tools and resources that inform FCDO’s approach to inclusive energy programming beyond FY25/26. It does not commit to new tracking systems or dedicated resources.
8
Conclusion
Accepted
8th Report - Empowering Developmen…
Energy access projects succeed with genuine local co-design and long-term capacity strengthening.
Energy access projects and programmes are more likely to succeed when they are genuinely co-designed with local stakeholders, inclusive of marginalised groups, and supported by long-term capacity-strengthening. (Conclusion, Paragraph 43)
Government Response
The FCDO agrees and recognizes the importance of the conclusion, stating it already promotes community engagement through inclusive models and places GEDSI principles at the centre of its approach, including through existing programs like TEA and MECS and a new GEDSI toolkit. A study commissioned for 2025 will further inform future programming to ensure community voices are central.
9
Conclusion
Accepted
8th Report - Empowering Developmen…
Technology-driven energy projects risk limited local ownership, compromising legitimacy and sustainability.
Energy projects are often technology-driven, which heightens the risks associated with limited local ownership and maintenance capacity. Emphasis should not be placed on rapid deployment or narrow output targets, but rather on meaningful community involvement. When engagement is top-down or …
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Government Response
The government partially agrees, acknowledging the importance of disaggregated data and committing to making targeted improvements to climate finance KPIs and reporting systems, specifically strengthening disaggregated data reporting on gender and disability, through an upcoming Portfolio Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) contract. It also agrees in principle that projects should consider and communicate key trade-offs.
13
Conclusion
Accepted
8th Report - Empowering Developmen…
Inclusive community participation enhances the effectiveness and sustainability of energy initiatives
Inclusion is central to the effectiveness, sustainability, and legitimacy of community energy initiatives. Projects designed and governed with the active participation of women, people with disabilities, and other under- represented groups are more likely to deliver meaningful, lasting benefits and …
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Government Response
The government partially agrees with the conclusion, highlighting its existing support for practical, scalable innovations through programmes like TEA and MECS, and detailing successes of companies supported. It describes how it is already promoting gender equality and social inclusion within its energy access programmes and supporting local stakeholders in national energy planning.
19
Recommendation
Accepted
8th Report - Empowering Developmen…
Provide a clear definition of 'clean energy' for ODA, stating sources and environmental impacts
In its response to this report, the Government should provide a clear definition of “clean energy” for ODA purposes, explicitly stating the energy sources supported, and their climate and other environmental impacts. This should also be published on the FCDO’s …
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Government Response
The government agrees and provides its definition of “clean energy” for ODA purposes, including specific technologies supported and those not included. It states this guidance, published in the UK International Climate Finance Results, is already publicly available on GOV.UK.
23
Conclusion
Accepted
8th Report - Empowering Developmen…
Government's overreliance on innovation in aid strategy carries inherent risks
The Government’s aid strategy rightly emphasises research and innovation, leveraging FCDO’s distinctive ability to connect global expertise with local knowledge and fostering strong partnerships with the UK research community. However, overreliance on innovation carries risks that need to be acknowledged …
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Government Response
The FCDO partially agrees, acknowledging the concerns about overreliance on innovation and committing to mitigate risks by balancing innovation with proven approaches, embedding local ownership, strengthening risk management, and investing in capacity-building. It outlines its existing R&D portfolio, but defers firm commitments on increasing investment beyond FY25/26.
25
Recommendation
Accepted
8th Report - Empowering Developmen…
Work with ODA-recipient governments to develop policy for community energy projects
The Government should, where appropriate, work with ODA-recipient governments to develop policy, regulatory frameworks and viable, scalable models that enable community energy projects, drawing on UK expertise. (Recommendation, Paragraph 78)
Government Response
The FCDO agrees and states it already offers this through its ICF Technical Assistance work, citing examples like the Green Cities, Infrastructure and Energy Programme and Climate Compatible Growth research. It also notes it is exploring ways to enhance its expertise and advice to countries in developing policy and regulatory frameworks.
26
Conclusion
Accepted
8th Report - Empowering Developmen…
Community energy progress depends on fostering local innovation and robust capacity building
Sustained progress in community energy depends on fostering local innovation and building robust capacity at multiple levels, from grassroots technical skills to manufacturing ecosystems. (Conclusion, Paragraph 81)
Government Response
The FCDO agrees with the conclusion and highlights existing programmes like TEA, Chevening Scholarships, and open-source training that already foster innovation and build capacity in energy access. They commit to continuing to embed lessons learned from evaluations into policy and programme delivery.
27
Recommendation
Accepted
8th Report - Empowering Developmen…
Foster grassroots innovation by creating platforms for communities to co-design energy solutions
The Government should use its convening power to foster grassroots innovation by creating platforms for young people and local communities to co-design energy solutions. This could involve facilitating partnerships, research exchanges, and mentorship programmes between UK institutions and counterparts in …
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Government Response
The FCDO agrees and states it remains committed to using its convening power to co-design energy solutions and will focus on local leadership. The response details existing initiatives like the TEA programme, Chevening Scholarships, and training courses that already foster innovation, capacity, and partnerships, demonstrating alignment with the recommendation.
30
Recommendation
Accepted
8th Report - Empowering Developmen…
Ensure multilateral funding scales community energy projects, empowering beneficiaries through global leadership and best practices
The Government should ensure that funding through multilaterals offers opportunities to scale community energy projects. It should take a global leadership role to guarantee that communities benefit from energy access projects in ways that empower them. This could include facilitating …
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Government Response
The government accepts this recommendation, stating it already leads by example through domestic commitments and engagement with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to scale energy access and ensure community benefits. It commits to continue influencing and driving innovations from significant multilateral investments.