Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Fall 9-25-2025

Abstract

Globally, 666.5 million people still lack access to electricity, the vast majority residing in rural areas in the Global South. The same communities are also among the most vulnerable to climate change, facing rising temperatures, extreme weather and environmental degradation - yet they lack the energy resources needed to adapt and build resilience. Community-led distributed renewable energy (DRE) systems, from household solar to community mini-grids, can help accelerate the global adoption of renewable energy while empowering the most marginalized communities to have the capacity to lead the transition. For these systems to be sustainable, communities must be paired with direct funding and strong local technical capacity developed through regional training and innovation centers. This brief outlines a three-pillar approach to ensure that rural communities, and women in particular, are empowered to lead the renewable energy transition. While previous work has treated funding mechanisms, regional training hubs, and innovation in isolation, this will consider a synergistic network of the three pillars.

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