Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Deferred
Establish a working group by 2026 to embed energy access across FCDO policies and create incentives.
Conclusion
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 32 targeted funding and measurable incentives for programmes that integrate energy access with other sectors, including health, water, and food systems. (Recommendation, Paragraph 28) Local Ownership and Inclusive Governance
Government response summary AI-generated
The government's response appears to be misaligned with the recommendation provided. It refers to reviewing accountability frameworks within the next six months (a specific action, but for another recommendation), and mentions past activities such as a webinar and a report on localisation published in November 2025. It does not address embedding energy access across policies, setting up a working group, or creating targeted funding as requested by the original recommendation.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
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 systematically. Conclusion and Recommendation 3
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