Publications
The Multi-Tier Framework (MTF) has redefined global energy access measurement by replacing binary indicators with a multidimensional approach that evaluates service quality across reliability, affordability, safety, and availability. Developed by the World Bank under its Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), the MTF ranks access from Tier 0 to Tier 5, offering a more accurate picture of how energy is experienced in practice.
This report marks a decade of implementation of the Multi-Tier Framework (MTF), documenting 29 surveys across 27 countries and representing the most comprehensive effort to measure energy access beyond simple connectivity. Developed through collaboration between the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) and the Living Standards Measurement Study (LSMS), the MTF established standardized survey instruments, field protocols, and analytical methods to generate the first internationally comparable, nationally representative datasets on electricity and cooking access. Implemented across diverse regions—including countries affected by fragility, conflict, and violence—these surveys provide an unprecedented evidence base for understanding how energy services are actually experienced.
The importance of this report lies in its ability to translate a decade of data into actionable insight. By revealing gaps between access and service quality, it equips governments, development partners, and researchers with the tools needed to design more effective, targeted energy policies and investments. The findings have strengthened global tracking of Sustainable Development Goal 7 and fostered a shared understanding of how energy access links to development outcomes. By consolidating empirical evidence, assessing policy applications, and outlining future priorities, the report positions the MTF as a critical foundation for advancing equitable, high-quality energy access worldwide.
EXPLORE THE DATA: Multi-Tier Framework for Energy Access
EXPLORE COUNTRY DIAGNOSTICS
READ THE MAIN REPORT: Beyond Borders: Energy Access Redefined | Executive Summary
World Bank; Angelou, Nicolina; Kersey, Jessica; Koo, Bryan Bonsuk; Padam, Gouthami; Zaman, Fakhruz; Park, Jiyun; Amankwah, Akuffo; Oseni, Gbemisola; Palacios-Lopez, Amparo.
The Multi-Tier Framework for Energy Access : Insights and Impact from a Decade of Surveys (English). Washington, D.C. : World Bank Group. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/099040126145541234
