Published on 14 July 2025

Inclusive access and transition to clean energy

The SDC promotes inclusive access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy and the productive and efficient use of clean energy. A special focus is put on sustainable cooling systems.

Photovoltaic systems installed in Cameroon

Electricity generation, heat production and transport rely heavily on fossil fuels and together account for around 70 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, nearly 666 million people do not have access to electricity, and 2.1 billion people lack access to clean cooking. The demand for energy in low-income countries and lower-middle-income countries will continue to grow significantly.

The SDC therefore promotes inclusive access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy and the productive and efficient use of clean energy. The latter is key to achieving SDG 7, the goals of the Paris Agreement and, according to the IEA, can make the largest contribution to global emissions reductions.

As cooling is becoming increasingly important with rising temperatures, the SDC puts a special focus on access to clean and efficient cooling, as well as sustainable cold chains for medicine and food by showcasing renewable and passive solutions with multiple climate, economic and health benefits.

🧺Themes and potential focus areas

  • Clean cooking (promotion of energy efficient stoves, including changes in the relevant policy frames as enabling environments)
  • Productive use of energy (establishment of mini-grids and off-grid renewable energy systems that contribute to local economic development)
  • Sustainable and inclusive energy transition including energy access in displacement settings (through improved access to financing solutions for sustainable energy or policy support for an inclusive energy transition)
  • Clean cooling (through promoting passive cooling solutions and piloting innovative business models for energy efficiency in cold chains in agriculture and health)
  • Transportation (through developing norms and standards for vehicle emissions)
  • Green jobs related to these themes
  • Circular economies

💡Project examples

  • Clean Off-Grid Energy Access (COGEA): COGEA works to improve rural and peri-urban livelihoods by incentivising the deployment and productive use of renewable energy technologies, and to contribute to climate change mitigation by reducing CO2 emissions. It promotes new ways and means to support access to climate friendly off-grid energy in rural communities of sub-Saharan Africa by mobilising private investments and public funding through a Social Impact Incentives (SIINC) funding mechanism that rewards companies that have created lasting social impact for their customers.
  • Solar irrigation for Agriculture Resilience (SoLAR): SoLAR in South Asia aims to sustainably manage the water-energy and climate interlinkages in South Asia through the promotion of solar irrigation pumps. The main goal of the project is to contribute to climate-resilient, gender-equitable, and socially inclusive agrarian livelihoods in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan by supporting government efforts to promote solar irrigation.
  • Renewable Energy, Energy and Resource Efficiency Promotion in International Cooperation (REPIC): REPIC is the interdepartmental platform of the Federal Office for the Environment, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. It promotes and supports the early and pre-commercial phase of projects that aim to transfer knowledge and technology to develop renewable energy, energy and resource efficiency in developing and transition countries. It offers matching grants to projects submitted by Swiss companies, universities and NGOs, and fosters communication and networking between these stakeholders.

Further Projects

👓Further Resources

Contact

SDC Network Climate, DRR & Environment
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC
Eichenweg 5
3003 Bern
Switzerland