Recommendations & Conclusions
10 items
6
Conclusion
8th Report - Empowering Development: En…
Accepted in Part
The emphasis put by the FCDO and British International Investment (BII) on community-led energy is often implicit. The key concern is not the absence of the label, but whether localised energy systems are truly considered as a viable option and whether communities are genuinely placed at the centre of planning …
Government response. The government partially agrees, highlighting existing programs (TEA, MECS) and a completed study that embed localisation and inclusion principles, and detailing BII's community engagement, but states an inability to make firm commitments beyond confirmed FY25/26 budgets while committing to bear …
10
Recommendation
8th Report - Empowering Development: En…
Accepted in Part
The Government should make inclusive community participation across all stages of design, governance, and implementation a condition of UK funding for energy access. This should involve recognising and resourcing communities, particularly marginalised groups, as decision-makers. (Recommendation, Paragraph 45)
Government response. The FCDO agrees, stating that current guidance already requires partners to demonstrate engagement with local stakeholders and they actively promote inclusive community participation. A 2025 study on locally-led action will inform future programming to ensure community voices are central to …
14
Recommendation
8th Report - Empowering Development: En…
Accepted in Part
The FCDO should ensure women are central to community energy projects by supporting their leadership, and designing interventions around their needs, so they act as agents of change rather than just beneficiaries. It should report on the extent to which the recommendations of the GEDSI guidance note are implemented by …
Government response. The government partially agrees, stating it already promotes gender equality and women's leadership through existing policies and programmes. However, it cannot commit to reporting on the implementation of GEDSI guidance note recommendations by June 2026, citing a lack of established …
20
Recommendation
8th Report - Empowering Development: En…
Accepted in Part
The Government should require all energy access projects to include a clear assessment of trade-offs in funding bids, alongside a plan for monitoring impacts and communicating risks to stakeholders. (Recommendation, Paragraph 67)
Government response. The government partially agrees, stating it will embed a concise "trade-offs and choices" section into existing energy access bids and require a proportionate risk-communication plan within existing guidance, rather than introducing a separate requirement. This aims to make current assessments …
22
Recommendation
8th Report - Empowering Development: En…
Accepted in Part
The Government must explore the synergies between global energy access and climate adaptation more fully. This could be done by facilitating collaborative research networks internationally to strengthen the knowledge base. Relevant Government programmes should also collaborate to identify options for deeper integration and progress should be tracked through a joint …
Government response. The government partially agrees, recognizing the interconnectedness and supporting collaborative research, and it agrees objectives could be better integrated. It commits to exploring upgrading governance and coordination across the climate finance portfolio, but notes resourcing decisions beyond FY25/26 are not …
24
Recommendation
8th Report - Empowering Development: En…
Accepted in Part
The Government should maintain its commitment to research and innovation while increasing investment in the operationalisation of existing, effective energy solutions. Funding mechanisms must bridge the gap between early- 35 stage R&D and market-ready technologies, providing opportunities for commercialisation and ensuring sustained support for community-based systems. (Recommendation, Paragraph 76)
Government response. The FCDO partially agrees, noting its successful R&D portfolio and committing to mitigate risks of overreliance on innovation by balancing approaches and embedding local ownership. However, it states it cannot make firm commitments to increasing investment in operationalisation of existing …
28
Conclusion
8th Report - Empowering Development: En…
Accepted in Part
Without predictable support, both the quality and effectiveness of UK- funded energy access initiatives, as well as the expertise built up through years of engagement, are at risk. We recognise the importance of the new arrangements for ODA allocations in improving predictability at the departmental level. However, we would like …
Government response. The government partially agrees, stating it aims to prioritise multi-year planning and greater programming predictability, subject to future budget allocations, to ensure stable delivery and long-term impact, including supporting projects through their full life cycle. However, they also recognise that …
29
Recommendation
8th Report - Empowering Development: En…
Accepted in Part
The Government should commit to multi-year funding structures that support projects across their full life cycle. This should include not only initial deployment but also ongoing maintenance, technical assistance, and governance support. The aim is to ensure that local communities can benefit from energy systems over the long term and …
Government response. The government partially agrees, stating it aims to prioritise multi-year planning and greater programming predictability, subject to future budget allocations, to ensure stable delivery and long-term impact, including supporting projects through their full life cycle. However, they acknowledge that projects …
31
Recommendation
8th Report - Empowering Development: En…
Accepted in Part
The Government should embrace the financial and strategic value of its development work, both in generating viable market opportunities and in providing insights that can strengthen domestic energy policy and practice. (Conclusion, Paragraph 95)
Government response. The government partially agrees, stating it already collaborates with DESNZ and shares lessons. It commits to deepening collaboration through enhanced governance, joint-delivery arrangements, tracking, and coordination, and has commissioned a study on UK secondary benefits to be completed by March …
32
Recommendation
8th Report - Empowering Development: En…
Accepted in Part
The Government should formalise a mechanism for systematic two-way learning between domestic and international energy initiatives and formally identify ways UK businesses could grow their international footprint through community energy investments. It should be in place by June 2026 (Recommendation, Paragraph 96) 37
Government response. The government partially agrees, committing to deepen collaboration and commissioning a study (due March 2026) to inform future programme design and strengthen mechanisms for two-way learning and UK business growth, but states it cannot commit to a *formalised mechanism* at …