ACCESS Last Mile

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What: definition, context, and current obstacles/knowledge gaps

Last mile communities are those that are remote (or remain isolated), poor, and/or marginalized. Last mile areas are considerably difficult to reach, both financially as well as physically. Furthermore, in terms of energy access, these regions severely lack basic services and sufficient public support. The last mile communities are not restricted by geographic location and can be present in any developing country, including urban or peri-urban settings. While those without electricity access fell from 1.7 billion in 2000 to 1.1 billion in 2016, the majority of people who remain without access are more difficult to reach than those already connected; on the current trajectory we will reach only an additional 674 million by 2030 (IEA, 2017a). A large portion of the 1.1 billion people currently without any form of modern energy are considered to reside in the last mile and are an area of focus because they are commonly overlooked.

Last mile areas usually consist of scattered and low-density populations, making traditional grid extension solutions financially unsustainable. Best Practices in the sector show the importance of using multi-stakeholder and multi-dimensional approaches to increase impact in this space. Safe networks, affordable business models, or market stimulation through public subsidies are some examples of the work CSOs are currently undertaking to deliver energy access at a higher pace.

Subtopics

• Inclusiveness
• Remoteness
• Gender inclusivity
• Inclusive markets