Access to reliable electricity in health facilities is an important enabler of quality, essential health services for women, children, and families, and is necessary to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal in both energy and health. Yet, it is estimated that tens of thousands of health facilities across low- and middle-income countries lack electricity and/or suffer from frequent and debilitating blackouts.

To help address this challenge, the United Nations Foundation began work in 2013 under the umbrella of the UN’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative to build the evidence and knowledge for the United Nations and its partners to close the energy access gap for health facilities and help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

In support of the effort to improve access to quality, essential health care through universal electrification of health facilities by 2030, this website serves as a resource for those interested in the nexus of energy and health care, with a focus on knowledge-sharing and advocacy for access to energy in the health sector.

Featured Video

Powering Health Care: Phoebe’s Story

Imagine having to give birth in the dark or have an operation with only the light of a mobile phone. While there is little awareness about the importance of electricity to health care, energy is essential for women, children, and families.

Health care facilities depend on electricity to function and provide essential services when they are needed most. Electricity is used to power the lights in the operating room and maternity ward, maintain the cold chain for vaccines, operate life-saving medical devices, and support and empower staff like Phoebe Akiiki. This is Phoebe’s story.

On the Blog

The Power to Save Lives
01 June 2018June 26, 2018

The Power to Save Lives

More than 1 billion people around the world live without access to electricity, and in many communities, health clinics don’t have reliable power. To achieve sustainable development, we need sustainable energy.

In recent weeks, energy has been talked about in several global conferences – including the World Health Assembly and the Sustainable Energy for All Forum – as a key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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UNF Call for Proposals: Study of Income Generation Models

August 1, 2018 |  The UN Foundation is inviting proposals for a study of income-generation models from solar PV systems for its ongoing health facility electrification project.

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Lin-Manuel Miranda Interview With Savannah Guthrie

July 23, 2018  |  In an interview on TODAY, “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda discusses his work in supporting Puerto Rico's recovery, including electrifying health centers.

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Rethinking Development: Can Health Centres Be Power Stations?

May 16, 2018  |  Renewable energy has long been heralded as the solution for providing hard-to-reach communities with electricity. But how can we ensure that it's sustainable?

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Access to Modern Energy Services for Health Facilities in Resource-Constrained Settings

This study is a joint effort by the World Health Organization (WHO), aimed at improving quality, safety and accessibility…

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Special Feature SEAR: Modern Energy Access and Health

Modern energy access is an important determinant of human health, as it plays a critical role in the capabilities of...

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Health Facility Energy Needs Assessment: Uganda Country Summary

This report summarizes the findings of an energy needs assessment conducted for 100 healthcare facilities in Uganda.

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Health Facility Energy Needs Assessment: Ghana Country Summary

This report summarizes the findings of an energy needs assessment conducted for 75 healthcare facilities in Ghana.

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Powering Health Care

for Women, Children, and Families