Often cited as the missing Millennium Development Goal, energy poverty has rapidly moved up the global aid agenda since U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon — flanked by development leaders — unveiled his vision of “sustainable energy for all by 2030” two and a half years ago. According to the International Energy Agency, more than 1.3 billion people around the world lack access to electricity — a major barrier to the achievement of the MDGs in 2015.
In May 2013, the highly anticipated report from Ban’s high-level panel of eminent persons recommended sustainable energy as one of 12 universal goals for a post-2015 development framework. Weeks later, U.S. President Barack Obama unveiled the $7 billion Power Africa initiative — his marquee second-term development initiative — just as the World Bank was launching an aggressive new lending strategy for its multibillion-dollar energy portfolio.
About the author
Lorenzo Piccio@lorenzopiccio
Lorenzo is a contributing analyst for Devex. Previously Devex's senior analyst for development finance in Manila, he is currently an MA candidate in international economics and international development at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington. Lorenzo holds a bachelor's degree in government and social studies from Wesleyan University.
