The second day of the 4th SEforALL Forum focused on innovative solutions that can help deliver change at the speed and scale needed to meet SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy). Opening the discussions, SEforALL CEO Rachel Kyte reflected on the “reality check” and inspirational conversations, business transactions and connections of the previous day, and informed participants that the momentum generated would continue on Friday, 4 May, with over 90 meetings scheduled to take place in Lisbon.

Some of the highlights from the second day are detailed below:

• Continuation of a series of Knowledge into Action Dialogues, Calls to Action, “Disruptive Voices,” and Partner Networking Sessions to showcase innovative solutions and opportunities to achieve scale and action across the various energy sectors.
• Announcement of new pledges and new partnerships, such as the Shine Campaign, a group of 35 philanthropists, faith leaders, and private capital organizations committed to advancing energy access.
• An Interactive Lunch focusing on the theme, ‘Blended Finance for SDG 7: Mobilizing Commercial Finance to Achieve Universal Energy Access Across Sub-Saharan Africa.’
• Screening of the video ‘Phoebe’s Story,’ highlighting the impact of a joint project of the UN Foundation and the UK’s Department for International Development to electrify more than 60 health centers in Ghana and Uganda.

Closing the Forum, Rachel Kyte congratulated all stakeholders for moving the conversation from one only about energy to one about healthcare, jobs, education, businesses, and prosperity overall. She honored new commitments covering, among others, electricity connections, clean fuels, clean cooking, off-grid energy, mobilization of faith communities, the displaced and refugees, and financial resources.

The fourth Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) Forum opened on Wednesday, 2 May 2018, at the Convento do Beato in Lisbon, Portugal. Under the overarching theme of ‘Leaving No One Behind,’ the two-day Forum is: reviewing the latest evidence of progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 (access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all; exploring scalable innovations to achieve the three SEforALL objectives of electricity access, accelerating renewable energy and improving energy efficiency; and reflecting on lessons learned regarding what is needed to reach the “last mile” populations.

Highlights of the first day included:

• Presentation of results from the 2018 Tracking SDG 7 Energy Progress Report;
• A high-level panel discussion on policy matters, focusing on national strategies to accelerate progress towards SDG 7, including perspectives on how to address challenges in meeting sustainable energy and climate goals;
• A “Wake Up Call” from Rachel Kyte, SEforALL CEO, on what is needed to achieve SDG 7;
• Three “Deep Dive” sessions exploring the themes of: electricity for all in sub-Saharan Africa; clean fuels for all; and cooling for all;
• Nine parallel discussion sessions organized by SEforALL partners;
• An interactive session on gender inclusive investing in clean energy, which discussed linkages between SDGs 5 (gender equality) and 7; and
• A marketplace on solutions to achieve clean and affordable energy for all.