The International Off-Grid Renewable Energy Conference (IOREC) is a flagship biennial event convened by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). It is a gathering of international stakeholders – primarily those working on extending energy access, as well as those across sectors where energy is critical to the provision of the most essential services. The summit provides for in-depth discussions on energy access. The subject expertise and regional experience of key speakers foster further understanding of the factors driving the expansion of energy access, and what is needed to navigate in the right direction, gain the required momentum and overcome challenges while creating opportunities for universal access. The event helps to assess progress, tracking the pathways taken thus far.