ACCESS Last Mile
Back to the Knowledge Portals of UP-SCALE
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
- Types of solutions: Stand-alone, Micro and mini grids, grid integrated: what do each of these mean (see Basic EnergyServices/Technologies), understanding needs to determine what solutions work where and for what- Energy Delivery models etc.), what is the tech behind it, what are the financing channels, what is their distribution in the country context
- TheGlobal Distributors Collective works to provide a collective voice for the last mile distribution sector, including several webinars and podcasts.
Knowledge Gaps
- Stakeholders and the Enabling environment: Who is who? What is the typical role? (can we develop a list of organizations working in a select set of countries that can act as a guide) 1. Practitioners (social energy enterprises, private sector developers, NGOs that are implementers), 2. CSOs, 3. Financiers (local banks, Impact investors, foundations, small SACCOs etc) 4. Policy makers (Energy plans, International level institutions + local entities, how can we leverage the powers/ plans of non-energy depts to move on SDG7) 5. Researchers (Who is doing what in specific countries)
- Value chain: Understanding needs in an inclusive manner, Using appropriate tech solutions,
- Enable financing (social protection approaches)
- Ensuring strong maintenance (if communities can't pay, how can maintenance be covered)
- Policy advocacy: What is the process for good policy advocacy- power mapping, understanding the plans/ programmes we're trying to influence, technical analysis of policies, various methods used for advocacy and engagement with key policy organizations
- ...
How: required actions considering existing best practices
Who: outline of active contributors in the sector and current multi-stakeholder analysis
