As the global clean energy movement gathers momentum, much of the spotlight remains on technology: cutting-edge solar kits, innovative battery solutions, and scalable off-grid systems. These tools are vital — but they are only part of the equation. The other, often overlooked, component is the ecosystem that enables these technologies to thrive: technical assistance (TA).
In their recent article, Sun-Connect makes a compelling case for why technical assistance must be reimagined and elevated if we are to achieve truly inclusive and sustainable energy access.
The Role of Technical Assistance: More Than Just Support
At its best, technical assistance is not a side service — it’s a strategic enabler. It helps clean energy solutions move from pilot to permanence, and from promise to impact.
Technical assistance can take many forms, including:
- Training and upskilling local technicians, installers, and entrepreneurs
- Advisory services for governments and regulatory bodies
- Market research and data sharing for better planning and investment
- Support for business model development, especially for SMEs and local startups
- Facilitating partnerships between public and private actors
In short, it’s what turns clean energy technology into real, reliable service delivery — especially in low-income and remote communities.
What’s Not Working: Fragmentation and Short-Termism
Despite its importance, TA is too often implemented in ways that limit its effectiveness. The Sun-Connect article points to three major issues:
- Short project cycles that do not allow for capacity to be built sustainably.
- Lack of coordination among donors, governments, and implementers, leading to duplication or misalignment.
- Insufficient engagement with local stakeholders, meaning that TA often misses the mark in addressing real, on-the-ground needs.
TA cannot be an afterthought or a checkbox. When it is delivered as one-off consultancy or isolated training, its potential is lost. It must be systemic, integrated, and continuous.
What Needs to Change: A New Vision for TA
To truly unlock its power, TA must evolve into a robust, adaptive ecosystem — one that enables long-term impact. According to Sun-Connect, this involves:
- Demand-driven design: TA should respond directly to the needs of those on the frontlines — local entrepreneurs, communities, and government agencies.
- Coordination and coherence: Actors across the energy access landscape must align their efforts, share learnings, and build on each other’s work.
- Long-term investment: TA needs sustained support, not just short bursts of funding tied to project cycles.
- Capacity at every level: From local cooperatives to national ministries, TA should support actors across the value chain.
Importantly, TA must be rooted in respect for local knowledge and ownership. The most effective assistance doesn’t impose solutions — it empowers people to shape their own.
Why This Matters: The Human Side of Energy Access
Energy access is not just a technical challenge — it’s a human one. It’s about enabling healthcare facilities to refrigerate vaccines, helping children study at night, and powering small businesses that form the backbone of local economies.
Technology can deliver these outcomes, but only when it’s deployed in a system that understands people, context, and complexity.
That’s why technical assistance matters. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t generate headlines. But it is the glue that holds energy access efforts together, ensuring they’re not just deployed, but adopted — and sustained.
A Shared Responsibility
The responsibility to strengthen technical assistance lies with everyone in the ecosystem:
- Funders and donors must invest in TA as a core pillar, not a peripheral activity.
- Implementers and NGOs must embed TA into every stage of project design and delivery.
- Governments and local institutions must lead in shaping TA to meet their priorities.
- Private sector actors must contribute insights and capacity to help build viable markets.
Final Thoughts
In our race to scale up clean energy solutions, let’s not forget what makes them work in practice. A well-functioning technical assistance ecosystem is not a luxury — it’s a necessity. It’s how we make sure that clean energy reaches those who need it most, in ways that are inclusive, durable, and transformative.
📖 Read the full article here: https://sun-connect.org/building-an-effective-technical-assistance-ecosystem-to-further-clean-energy-access/