Recommendation 1

HM Government Acknowledged

Partially Agree 6. We welcome recognition of the UK’s tangible impact in this area and the value of our research and innovation support. 7. The UK is on track to deliver £11.6bn in International Climate Finance (ICF) by the end of FY25/26. 8. While we agree on the importance of sustainable energy access policy and programming and intend to continue this work, it is not reasonable to expect that energy access investments can be fully protected in a scenario of ODA budgets moving to 0.3% of Gross National Income (GNI). Now that the Spending Review has determined ODA allocations for each government department, we are working through internal resource allocations, including for climate focussed programming. We will set out our spending plans for future years following completion of this process, keeping the recommendations of the committee in mind as we do. 9. As the UK pivots from a traditional donor to an investor in line with the 0.3% target, we will need to enhance our co-operation with like-minded partners and continue to seek opportunities for collaboration that accelerate progress toward achieving the SDG7 targets by 2030. 10. The UK’s ICF commitment for FY 25/26 includes support for clean energy access through multilateral initiatives like Mission 300, led by the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB), which aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. The UK remains a key contributor to International Development Assistance (IDA) and the African Development Fund (ADF) concessional windows at the World Bank which will fund much of Mission 300. The UK has contributed to the development of Mission 300 through our Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform, and we will continue strong engagement with Mission 300 via TEA, but also directly through country posts, regional desks, BII and PIDG. 11. Blended finance, working with the private sector and locally responsive initiatives will remain central. We expect to continue our focus on blended finance and public-private partnerships via investment vehicles including BII, Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), Financial Sector Deepening Africa, and the Renewable Energy Performance Platform. Mainstreaming Energy in Development Conclusion and Recommendation 2 (Conclusion 3, paragraph 27) 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 opportunity to maximise the impact of limited funds. (Recommendation 2, paragraph 28) The FCDO must embed energy access across development, climate and humanitarian policies. A departmental working group should be set up by the end of 2026 to coordinate delivery. The FCDO should also create targeted funding and measurable incentives for programmes that integrate energy access with other sectors, including health, water, and food systems. Government Response: Partially Agree 12. We agree that energy access is a foundational enabler of sustainable development, essential to delivery of many other SDGs including health, humanitarian, water, food and climate targets. Co-benefits of expanding clean energy access also include protection of nature and forests, as well as green jobs and expanding climate resilience. No economy has grown, or country exited poverty, without expanding its use of energy. 13. Since 2022, the TEA platform has included a portfolio of energy R&D projects in the humanitarian and health sectors. This has resulted in additional linkages being built between energy access and the humanitarian and health sectors. The Ayrton Fund’s approach to Ayrton Challenges, linking interventions across multiple departments, programmes and sectors towards a common challenge goal, has also improved coherence and co-ordination. 14. The Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) published a review into UK support for energy transition in November 2025. The review included recommendations that proposed: a comprehensive strategy for energy transition, with improved coordination between departments; stronger mechanisms for allocating funding between multilateral and bilateral channels; a clearer use of partnerships and alliances; alongside stating objectives for leveraging additional finance and investment. Overall, the review found good impacts and many positive achievements due to UK activities, and recommendations sought to enhance these. We will publish HMG’s response to the review in January 2026. 15. Officials working on energy access in FCDO regularly collaborate and will continue to find ways to continue and increase collaboration in 2026. Noting the Committee’s recommendation to establish a cross-departmental working group, we will always strive to ensure full join-up within FCDO on energy access, including integrating energy access with other sectors system