In the morning, the Understanding Sustainable Energy Solutions (USES) projects focused on sharing learning around consideration of gender and other inequalities within research projects and building equitable North-South working relations (see attached presentations). Research partners highlighted the need for face-to-face meetings to build relationships and found them more efficient than online conversations, there were cultural and organisational differences requiring time and energy to overcome, and mentorship and specific project milestones are needed to ensure that joint peer-reviewed scientific papers were published.

In the afternoon, funders shared current and planned funding in research around energy for development. Alistair Wray shared the Department of International Development (DFID) focus on addressing the barriers to sustainable energy access for all and scaling up the use of clean energy. The new £65 million Transforming Energy Access (TEA) programme will include calls through the Energy Catalyst, whilst future pipeline programmes could focus on Frontier Technologies, Low Energy Inclusive Appliances and Mission Innovation activities with the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Attendees then worked in mixed-discipline cross-sector groups to discuss and prioritise research challenges across sustainable energy for development, emphasising intersections with other Sustainable Development Goals.