Agriculture remains a major source of livelihoods and economic activity across many developing countries, but millions of smallholder farmers continue to face challenges in accessing reliable energy. More than 500 million smallholder farmers lack dependable energy access, limiting their ability to improve agricultural productivity, manage climate-related risks and strengthen rural incomes. Addressing these challenges, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) have introduced the Growth through Energy, Agriculture and Resilience (GEAR) framework to connect renewable energy deployment with agricultural development and climate adaptation.
The GEAR framework aims to overcome the traditional separation between energy and agricultural programmes. In many regions, energy projects focus primarily on providing electricity, while agricultural initiatives concentrate on improving farming practices and productivity. However, these activities often operate independently, preventing communities from fully benefiting from the combined advantages of clean energy and climate-smart agriculture. The framework promotes an integrated approach that links decentralised renewable energy solutions with agricultural value chains to support rural livelihoods and improve resilience to climate change.
Climate change is increasingly affecting agricultural productivity, food security and the economic stability of farming communities. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, droughts and other extreme weather events create additional pressure on smallholder farmers, particularly those with limited financial resources and inadequate infrastructure. Reliable renewable energy can help address some of these challenges by supporting irrigation, food preservation, processing and other agricultural activities. However, measuring the contribution of energy access to climate resilience requires more comprehensive methods than simply counting electricity connections.
The GEAR framework therefore moves beyond conventional indicators that measure whether households have access to electricity. It focuses on three interconnected capacities that determine how communities respond to climate-related challenges: adaptive, anticipatory and absorptive capacity.
Adaptive capacity refers to the ability of farmers and communities to adjust their activities and practices as environmental and economic conditions change. Anticipatory capacity focuses on preparing for potential climate hazards through forward planning and risk management. Absorptive capacity measures the ability of communities to withstand shocks, maintain essential functions and recover after disruptive events.
To translate these principles into practical action, GEAR follows an iterative, four-step methodology that covers project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The approach also integrates gender equality and equity considerations to ensure that interventions address local needs and avoid unintended negative consequences.
The first step, co-understand, involves engaging directly with communities to assess agricultural value chains, existing decentralised renewable energy use and local requirements. Project developers also examine farmers’ willingness and ability to pay for energy services.
The second step, co-design, brings stakeholders together to develop solutions suited to local conditions. These may include solar-powered irrigation systems, renewable energy-based cold storage and agro-processing facilities, combined with climate-smart agricultural practices.
The third step, co-deliver and co-monitor, focuses on implementing the selected interventions alongside training delivered by local experts. Continuous monitoring helps assess technical performance and progress towards stronger resilience.
The final step, co-learn, involves evaluating project outcomes with community participation. These assessments identify which interventions worked, who benefited and why, allowing lessons to inform future projects.
By involving farmers as active participants in decision-making, the GEAR framework seeks to ensure that renewable energy investments deliver meaningful improvements in rural livelihoods. It also helps energy developers demonstrate climate adaptation and emissions-reduction benefits to climate financiers, potentially improving access to funding.
Through this integrated approach, IRENA and IIED aim to strengthen the connection between energy access, agricultural development and long-term climate resilience, supporting more sustainable and secure rural economies.
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