Access to energy can have a transformative impact on the livelihoods of the rural poor, reducing the drudgery of their work and generating higher incomes. Women, in particular, would spend less time collecting fuel for cooking and heating, benefitting from less pollution in their homes. It is, therefore, promising to see several African countries taking bold steps to better connect rural areas and food systems to energy sources, and already benefitting from the sustainable supply and use of traditional and renewable energy sources in the agriculture sector.