Energy-access statistics often tell us how many homes are connected, how many stoves are distributed or how much renewable capacity is installed. Those numbers matter, but they do not tell us enough.
They do not reveal whether women control or benefit from household energy, whether a clean stove is affordable enough to use every day, or whether women are gaining technical jobs, contracts and leadership roles in the energy transition.
This week’s brief examines three authoritative resources released earlier in 2026 that have become increasingly important as governments and development partners prepare for the final stretch toward 2030. Together, they make the case for moving beyond access to agency: measuring not only whether energy is available, but also whether it changes people’s lives.
Gender data can turn visibility into accountability
Recent policy brief—launched 6 July 2026; newly relevant as the 81st United Nations General Assembly opens
The 2026 policy brief Gender Indicators for Sustainable Energy: A Call to Action addresses a serious weakness in SDG 7 monitoring: the goal still has no dedicated gender indicator.
The supporting country-mapping exercise found that many countries already collect information capable of showing gender differences in electricity access, appliance ownership and energy-sector employment. Yet those data are rarely analysed or published by sex, and reporting standards remain inconsistent.
This means the gender-data gap is not always caused by a lack of information. Often, the information already exists but remains invisible inside national surveys and institutional systems.
Evidence presented at the brief’s launch showed what becomes possible when gender is built intentionally into energy programmes. Women’s employment in Nigeria’s off-grid solar companies more than doubled, while women represented 45% of off-grid solar jobs in Rwanda. These results demonstrate that gender-responsive action is not symbolic; it can strengthen the workforce and improve delivery.
ACEN will advocate for energy-access reporting that answers four public questions: Who is being reached? Who controls and uses the energy? Who gains economic opportunity? Who is still being left behind?
Explore the UN launch discussion and policy findings · Read the policy brief
A clean stove does not end energy poverty if families cannot keep using it
Research released 28 June 2026; newly relevant to clean-cooking implementation and consumer protection
The Clean Cooking Alliance’s User Insights Lab conducted more than 3,000 surveys in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia in what it describes as the largest study to date of “fuel stacking” in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Fuel stacking occurs when households use modern appliances alongside polluting fuels such as charcoal or firewood. The study found that most customers used their intended clean-cooking technology for only about half of their cooking needs and relied on two or three fuels overall.
The reasons were practical. Clean fuels could be too expensive for foods requiring long cooking times. Fuel shortages and electricity outages interrupted use. Single-burner stoves made it difficult to prepare several dishes at once. Some appliances required pots households did not own or did not suit familiar cooking methods.
This evidence challenges programmes that count a stove as success at the moment of delivery. Clean cooking is achieved only when a solution is affordable, available, culturally suitable and reliable enough to displace polluting fuels over time.
Women who cook every day possess essential design knowledge. ACEN will promote women-led demonstrations, user testing, appliance finance, reliable fuel and electricity supply, local repair services and follow-up measurement of sustained use.
Read the Clean Cooking Alliance analysis
The Caribbean is building capacity—and women must help lead it
Programme launched 28 July 2026; newly relevant as countries turn energy targets into investable projects
The Caribbean Development Bank and the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency have launched the ASERT 2030 Regional Capacity Strengthening Programme, valued at approximately US$5.29 million.
The programme responds to a stubborn regional challenge. Renewable energy accounts for only about 12% of the Caribbean energy mix, despite abundant resources, while high costs, imported-fuel dependence and climate risks continue to affect households and businesses.
Over 30 months, the programme will strengthen energy data, planning, institutions and regional cooperation so that countries can develop more resilient, investment-ready projects. Importantly, it includes US$200,000 for the Women in Renewable Energy Programme and will provide mentorship, leadership development and knowledge-sharing opportunities for women in technical and leadership roles.
This is a valuable model because energy transitions are not delivered by equipment alone. Countries need skilled people, reliable data, capable institutions and a pipeline of projects strong enough to attract responsible investment.
ACEN will support collaboration with Caribbean institutions, women’s networks, utilities and community organisations so that women participate as planners, engineers, entrepreneurs, suppliers and leaders—not only as programme beneficiaries.
Read the Caribbean Development Bank announcement
ACEN’s perspective: energy access must become energy agency
The shared lesson from this week’s evidence is clear: counting infrastructure is not the same as measuring transformation.
A connection does not show whether electricity is affordable or reliable. A stove distribution total does not show whether families have stopped using polluting fuels. A national employment number does not show whether women can access technical jobs, finance, contracts or leadership.
ACEN will continue to press for a people-centred standard of progress—one that combines access with affordability, reliability, productive use, women’s leadership and community accountability.
Energy access tells us whether power is available. Energy agency tells us whether people can use that power to shape their own future.
African & Caribbean Energy Network
Ending Energy Poverty. Advancing SDG 7.
acenergynetwork.org
Social media: @acenergynetwork