These actors are not directly involved in policy making but their contributions to the policy formulation process cannot be overemphasised. Policy makers directly involved in decision making rely on these workers for ‘on the ground’ data to support their claims and secure their position in the decision-making process. They serve as the bedrock of the policy formulation and implementation process.

Who are they and what role do they play? 
Policy workers are bureaucrats, technocrats and other individuals from a diverse array of sectors (including think-tanks, non-governmental organisations, professional and pressure groups, contractors, multi-lateral and government agencies) who work in the pursuit of a legislated policy or goal. Policy workers play a vital role in energy policy making through various multi-actor processes whereby different social groups and a variety of actors apply their capabilities, resources, interests, strategies and beliefs to promote or obstruct systemic change.

In the energy sector, policy workers have helped shape energy system interventions at municipal, sub-national, national and international levels, particularly in addressing energy access.

These actors (whose decisions and choices are made depending on their needs and priorities) take on different roles as supply agents, intermediaries, equipment manufacturers, financial institutions and end-users in households. They may influence and shape outcomes such as the availability of supply, the provision of subsidies and reduced price of fuels, improving household incomes and influencing market dynamics.

Micro, meso and macro levels
Policy workers influence decisions at the micro, meso and macro scales. At the micro-level (which often plays out in households), choice of fuel is a major decision, affected by the availability of fuel and the household budget.

The choice of fuel can be externally influenced by government subsidies which then make the fuel affordable to more households. For example, the gradual switch from fuelwood (and the use of kerosene stoves) to LPG in many urban and peri-urban communities across Africa has been influenced by government interventions around clean cooking and subsidies on LPG.

At the meso level, we see a network of private supply intermediaries who are involved in equipment sales and the fuel trade. These policy workers, acting as intermediaries, operate at different layers either as wholesalers, retailers, private contractors or simply as agents.

They operate in different modes as renewable energy installers or sales agents, fuelwood distributors and retailers, equipment manufacturers, etc, through which they either shape demand directly (through direct involvement in the fuel supply chain) or indirectly (for example as equipment manufacturers that play the role of optimising the utilisation of a particular fuel).

At the macro level, we see how large-scale public utilities involved in the supply and distribution of important fuels (such as LPG and other refined petroleum products) shape fuel availability and use. Government agencies involved in the regulation of the downstream oil, gas and electricity sectors in many developing countries shape and determine energy prices.

Indeed, government agencies are major contributors of energy supply to households through price determination mechanisms and the provision of subsidies.

Institutions involved in shaping public polices also play an indirect role in energy supply. Agencies, such as planning and policy commissions on energy, economics, infrastructure, etc, frame policies that affect energy consumption and use. Indeed, due to the growing technological complexities of national energy systems, policies must be consistent with economic and technical analysis.

What motivates policy workers?
Tackling the problem of energy access and affordability are key factors that drive the actions of policy workers since these are the key indicators for measuring comfortable energy services.

For example, rural households in developing countries perceive the switch to LPG as expensive due to the high running cost and the initial investment to acquire the device. Other considerations around security of supply, cost of energy (including energy assets and devices) and ease of use, technological and environmental considerations, are some reasons policy workers want to influence certain desired outcomes.

Considering the rising complexity and interdependence of energy systems’ provision and use, we will see policy workers playing a greater role in shaping future energy. How these actors achieve this will affect the attainment of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly with issues around energy access since energy is a major catalyst for the attainment of the SDGs.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are strictly those of the author only and are not necessarily given or endorsed by or on behalf of the Energy Institute.