On Thursday morning, participants attended a joint energy and technical working group learning event on the Scaling Up Renewable Energy Program. Florence Richard-Quintanilha, African Development Bank, moderated discussions on successful practices, the unique challenges of rural poverty, and rural functional markets. Representatives from renewable energy organizations in Kenya, Nepal and the Maldives shared their experiences generating energy in remote regions, highlighting specific challenges and lessons learned in implementing rural energy projects. Participants discussed their countries' best practices, challenges, and country-specific enabling environments.

Daniel Riley, Lead Specialist, Renewable Energy Policy, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), then moderated a panel discussion on the role of social enterprise and the provision of energy services in rural areas. Panelists Joseph Nganga, Renewable Energy Ventures, Kenya, Thomas Pullenkav, Solar Electric Light Company (SELCO) Foundation, India, and James Wakaba, Global Village Energy Partnership International (GVEP), shared their experiences in establishing renewable energy systems in remote areas. Participants discussed the role of social enterprises in the country context to address challenges in the rural sector, and how these can improve enabling conditions and develop markets.

In the afternoon, participants were taken to Villi-Male', an island located on the northern side of Male' Atoll, to visit one of six solar photovoltaic (PV) installations at the Muhyiddin School. Ibrahim Nashid, Renewable Energy Maldives (REM), presented on the "Six Island Solar PV" project, while Thanzeela Naeem, Maldives, presented on the environmental work done by a voluntary movement called Save the Beach.