Since its inception at COP26 in 2021, the Global Energy Alliance has awarded $503m in catalytic funding, helping ‘unlock’ $7.8bn in total investments and powering 137 projects in over 30 countries.

Founded by The Rockefeller Foundation, IKEA Foundation, and Bezos Earth Fund, the recently released 2025 impact report, credits the Alliance’s public-private-philanthropy partnership model, blending philanthropic capital with public and private finance, with being on track to prevent 296 million tonnes of carbon emissions.

The impact report also highlights lessons from the Alliance’s first years that are shaping how universal energy access and clean energy transitions can succeed at scale: Funding alone is not enough, it needs pairing capital with hands-on technical expertise is critical to overcome barriers, build strong project pipelines, and speed adoption.

Solutions work best when they are country-led, market-based, and aligned with national priorities. Long-term alliances, built on clear roles and mutual accountability, are essential to deliver systemic change. Flexibility is also key: rigid delivery models often fail in complex environments, while adaptable timelines, contingency budgets, and strong local partnerships drive results.

Financing should be tied to measurable outcomes, released in tranches to maximize leverage and responsiveness. And from the outset, data systems must be embedded to track progress, enable adaptation, and generate the proof points needed to influence the broader sector.

“The findings in this report prove the value of public, private, philanthropic partnerships and demonstrate that a just energy transition is a powerful engine for jobs and economic growth,” said Woochong Um, CEO of the Global Energy Alliance. “This report demonstrates that when governments, investors, innovators, and communities come together, we can drive systemic change, creating solutions that work locally and scale globally.”

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