How Can Energy Access Programmes Address the Needs of People with Disabilities?

This research note lays out key ways in which the energy access stakeholders, particularly those that that are involved in enhancing access to off-grid appropriate appliances in resource constrained environments, can make their interventions disability-inclusive.

Globally, more than one billion people need one or more assistive products, which help them to lead a healthy and productive life. However, reports suggest that 90% of people who require assistive products lack access to them. People with disabilities are disproportionately represented in low-income countries, and particularly in low-income households. This geographical concentration of people with disabilities in low resource settings intersects with the focus of energy access practitioners.

In general, there is a need for greater innovation in assistive products so they are off-grid appropriate and can be seamlessly integrated within existing solar home systems or mini-grids in off- and weak-grid environments.

We have also created a checklist for both energy access programmes and off-grid appliance manufacturers to ensure they address the needs of people with disabilities. Read the checklist here