The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an intergovernmental organization focused on expanding solar energy deployment and cooperation, particularly among countries that receive significant solar radiation. Launched by India and France in 2015, the Alliance works on mobilizing investment, enabling technology and knowledge sharing, building capacity and supporting solar applications in member countries. The organization reflects the broader goal of using international cooperation to accelerate clean-energy access while reducing energy poverty and strengthening climate resilience.
Agenda: Scaling solar deployment for universal energy access: financing and technology transfer to bridge the global energy poverty gap.
The agenda focuses on the practical barriers that prevent communities and countries from moving from solar potential to reliable, affordable energy access. These barriers can include high upfront capital costs, currency and policy risk, limited grid infrastructure, lack of technical skills, weak project pipelines, high cost of finance and difficulties in maintaining equipment over time. Delegates may consider concessional finance, guarantees, blended-finance structures, decentralized solar and storage, mini-grids, local manufacturing and workforce training, standards, procurement mechanisms and technology partnerships. Technology transfer should also be approached as a capacity-building issue: countries need access not only to hardware but to skills, financing models, operation and maintenance expertise and appropriate regulatory systems.
