Beyond Connections: Energy Access Redefined

This technical document from the SEforALL Knowledge Hub conceptualizes a new multi-tier framework for defining and measuring access to energy. Binary metrics such as whether a household has an electricity connection, and whether a household cooks with non-solid fuels, do not help us understand the phenomenon of expanding energy access and how it impacts socioeconomic development. This report heralds a new definition and metric of energy access that is broader, covering energy for households, productive engagements and community facilities, and focusing on the quality of energy being accessed.