Universal access coalition
Closing the last mile of energy access
Despite achieving an impressive 97.6% electricity access rate, Latin America and the Caribbean still face a critical last-mile challenge: nearly 16 million people — primarily in remote rural areas and Indigenous communities — remain without electricity.
Traditional grid-expansion approaches have reached their limits, while the technologies and solutions needed to close this gap already exist. The Universal Access Coalition was formed to meet this moment—bringing together global and regional partners to overcome systemic barriers, mobilize financing, enable innovative policies and business models, and link energy access to productive uses and livelihoods. By aligning knowledge, policy, investment, and implementation, the Coalition provides a roadmap to achieve universal, sustainable electricity access across LAC by 2030, ensuring no community is left behind.
The Coalition’s work is organized around five interconnected outcomes:
- Enhanced knowledge creation and sharing through a dedicated Knowledge Hub that consolidates crucial data, best practices, and tools
- Strengthened policy and regulatory environments that enable innovative solutions at national and regional levels
- Increased technical capacity among key stakeholders to plan, implement, and operate new approaches
- Improved livelihoods through energy access linked to productive uses and income generation
- Mobilized human and financial resources to catalyze transformative change
Our work across Latin America and the Caribbean
Haiti
Building government capacity for off-grid electrification. Expanded Alina Eneji mesh grid from 1,000 to 4,000 connections, testing financial viability at scale, and enabling WB and IDB Lab to support the next scale up phase.
Bolivia
Providing technical assistance for the Rural Electrification Program III, supporting implementation and expanding access. Also supporting rural electrification, blended with a $200M loan for national access.
Peru
Supporting energy transition and universal access in the Peruvian Amazon. Studies finalized and lending project prepared.
Panama
Supporting the pre-investment phase of the Panama–Colombia electric interconnection with advisory on legal and financial business models. Also promoting solar generation in the electricity sector.
Honduras
Supporting energy access for Indigenous and Afro Honduran communities, expanding access and reliability.
El Salvador
Supporting a universal access program, enabling a $93M IDB loan for national access expansion.
Suriname
Preparing the Energy Transition and Integration Program. Promoting rural electrification and social development in the Amazon Hinterland. Supports deployment of a $45M IDB loan for access and productive use.
Data and resources (from the Alliance)
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