About one billion people globally lack access to energy. By 2030, 650 million people are expected to remain without energy access, almost all of whom will live in rural sub-Saharan Africa. IFC will help maintain and develop market based approaches for off-grid lighting and energy products globally through provision of market information, targeted advisory services to Pay As You Go (PAYGO) companies, and select off grid manufacturers and distributors. In partnerships with the Off-Grid Lighting Association (GOGLA) and CGAP, IFC will work with industry and investors towards a PAYGO performance, reporting and measurement framework to increase transparency and eventually unlock capital for the sector. IFC will help sustain adoption of off-grid quality standards (IEC 62257-9-5), which IFC helped create. It will do so by promoting these standards with Chinese manufacturers. It will preserve the standards through its partnership with CLASP, the leading resource for appliance energy efficiency policies, which is implementing the standards across several governments globally. The program will also continue to provide market insights and intelligence through its research activities to inform the industry’s strategy and business plans. IFC will leverage its ten-year experience in the private sector off-grid markets to endorse market-based approaches to development partners related to the design and implementation of their off-grid programs. Expected Development Impact for Public Disclosure The objective of this project is to support and maintain the development of market-based approaches for off-grid lighting and energy to ultimately increase access for households across off-grid markets. The key outcome of this project will be: - adoption of off-grid quality standards (IEC 62257-9-5), especially by manufacturers in China - Provide a range of market insights and intelligence within the off-grid lighting and energy sector and including emerging opportunities in related productive use appliances using solar. - develop industry performance and measurement framework in conjunction with investors and companies to mobilize investment