Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Accepted in Part
FCDO and BII's implicit emphasis on community-led energy lacks genuine local consideration.
Conclusion
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 and implementation. (Conclusion, Paragraph 34)
Government Response Summary
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 the recommendation in mind for future allocations.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
Government Response: Partially Agree 16. Through our TEA and Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programmes we have established a strong approach to fostering local partnerships and inclusion. More broadly, under the Ayrton Fund for clean energy innovation, we recently concluded a study to capture best practices, lessons and recommendations on Locally-Led Action and Equitable Partnerships across the wider Ayrton energy innovation portfolio, to help embed and strengthen localisation and inclusion principles in programming. 17. British International Investment (BII) places a strong emphasis on transparency, demonstrated by its recognition as the world’s most transparent bilateral Development Finance Institution by Publish What You Fund (PWYF) in the 2025 DFI Transparency Index. BII investments provide clean energy to over 26 million people across sub-Saharan Africa including 7 million via distributed renewable energy solutions, and transmission and distribution (T&D) projects. BII will continue to invest in expanding energy access in line with its Impact Framework. 18. In applying its Responsible Investing Policy, BII works with its investees to ensure stakeholder and community engagement is considered and appropriate mechanisms are put in place. This can include dedicated consultation processes and the establishment of grievance mechanisms. For example, at BII investee Virunga Energies in eastern DRC, close engagement with local communities was achieved through involving key community stakeholders throughout project execution via representatives in each community. This includes ongoing information sharing, awareness, and training sessions on Virunga Energies’ infrastructure and on emergency response as well as grievance registries through phone, WhatsApp, and email. 19. In addition to project level information, Virunga Energies also works closely with communities supporting reforestation activities to mitigate flood risk and awareness raising sessions against gender-based violence and harassment. More information on the impact of BII’s investment in Virunga Energies can be found in this recent independent evaluation.1 20. While we recognise the value of community-led energy projects, at this stage, HMG is unable to make firm commitments to any policy or programme beyond the confirmed budgets for FY25/26. However, we commit to bearing the Committee’s recommendation in mind in allocations.