Access to energy is a key driver of economic growth, yet many emerging market countries still face significant challenges in power generation and distribution, resulting in a population of over a billion people without access to electricity. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), providing electricity for all by 2030 would require an annual investment of USD 52 billion per year, more than double the current level being mobilized. The investment objective of the Energy Access Fund is to bridge this gap towards more universal access to modern energy, by providing debt financing to entities which operate across the entire value chain in the energy sector. These small and medium size businesses (SMEs) operate in developing markets, and largely target low income households as well as SMEs. The ultimate beneficiary is typically the population with limited, unreliable, or no access to energy.