SEforALL at the 8th Global Off-Grid Solar Forum and Expo 2024

Providing high-quality health care is virtually impossible without access to reliable electricity in health facilities. And yet, close to one billion people globally are served by health-care facilities with no electricity access or with unreliable electricity. Per a recently published report led by WHO, ESMAP/World Bank, SEforALL, and IRENA, 12% and 15% of health facilities in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, respectively, have absolutely no access to electricity. The huge energy access gap in health facilities calls for increased investments: an estimated 5 billion USD is needed to reliably electrify health facilities in most developing countries in these two regions, complemented by business models to deliver sustainable solutions. A similar effort is needed to also electrify schools. Together, improved health care and education can enhance human capital development. Access to financing and sustainability of solutions are two of the biggest challenges hampering this development.

This roundtable session will give government representatives and donors the opportunity to discuss challenges and priorities related to mobilization and deployment of finance as well as sustainability of solutions. The session will also provide a platform for various stakeholders (government, donors, industry associations, development banks etc) to share best practices and brainstorm how to advance sustainable electrification in the Global South through innovations in financing, business models, and technology.

• A summary of best practices on sustainability in electrifying public institutions across Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia
• A summary of innovations in financing, business models, and technologies expected in future projects across Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia
• How to best engage and incentivize the private sector
• Plan ahead of major forums such as COP and the Head of States Summit

More than 300 million in rural areas face health and productivity risks due to lack of, or insufficient access to cooling. Access to space cooling is becoming increasingly important to protect lives and livelihoods, reducing exposure to heat stress in homes, schools, clinics, and workspace, and improving productivity of those who work or study under challenging heat conditions. Cooling also plays a critical role in health care, for transportation and preservation of vaccines, blood and other medical products, as well as for temperature control of laboratories, pharmacies, operation rooms etc.

Latest developments and opportunities on technologies, business models, and financial innovations (which are making cooling increasingly viable and affordable in off-grid or weak grid settings) will be presented, along with key actions to foster an enabling environment for sustainable cooling

• Latest initiatives in Global South countries to improve access to cooling for better health and productivity (including education, work, homes)
• Latest space cooling and vaccine cold chain cooling technologies in the off-grid sector in the Global South (Private Sector)
• Summary of recommended actions to foster an enabling environment for sustainable cooling
• How to best engage and incentivize the private sector as well as engage donors