17 March 2025 | New Delhi, India: Today, Mr Ashish Khanna assumed office as the third Director General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). He succeeds Dr Ajay Mathur, who completed his four-year term as the Director General of the Alliance on 15 March 2025. The Director General of the International Solar Alliance is a key figure in the organisation’s leadership, steering its mission and initiatives. The International Solar Alliance, a global initiative launched in 2015 by India and France at COP21 in Paris, has 123 Member and Signatory countries. The Alliance works with governments to improve energy access and security while promoting solar power as a means to a sustainable transition to a carbon-neutral future. The Director General’s role is critical to the ISA’s mission, which centres on addressing global challenges and enabling Member Countries to accelerate solar energy deployment.
Mr Ashish Khanna brings a wealth of expertise and experience spanning over twenty-six years leading energy sector development across private and public sectors in more than fifteen developing countries across South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa & and Sub-Saharan Africa. He has unique experience working in the solar sector across the entire value chain, ranging from project conceptualisation, resource mobilisation, financing, bid process management, and project implementation.
On taking charge, the Director General of ISA, Mr Ashish Khanna, remarked, “I feel extremely honoured and privileged to have been nominated by the Government of India as its candidate and subsequently selected by ISA Member Countries. It is a real privilege.”
Outlining his vision on the way forward for the Alliance, he said, “For expanding ISA’s global impact, a shift from “what” to “how” in solar deployment strategies is the need of the hour. ISA has a unique ability to unlock private sector investments for meeting energy access and energy transition requirements, enable integrated institutional strengthening of countries especially in Africa and Small Island Countries, and be the knowledge powerhouse of the Global South by strengthening collaboration and partnerships with international governments, private sector, philanthropies and citizens on a global level.” Zeroing in on his priorities, he noted, “Energy is an essential artery for economic development and job creation in any country impacting various sectors be it digital, health, education or agriculture. The world has trillions of dollars of private sector capital that require innovative approaches for risk mitigation at the country, sector and project level. These risks can best be mitigated by bolstering institutional capacities in countries across the financing, regulatory, and technical fronts. Last but not the least, as an organisation headquartered in India, we always have the Indian-success story to cite for inspiration.” As the sole multilateral forum dedicated to solar energy transition and building upon existing milestones spread across three strategic priorities of work: Advocacy & Analytics, Capacity Building, and Programmatic Support, ISA is poised to renew its commitment towards global solar transition through the new leadership.
About the International Solar Alliance
The International Solar Alliance is a global initiative launched in 2015 by India and France at the COP21 in Paris, with 123 Member and Signatory countries. It works with governments to improve energy access and security worldwide and promote solar power as a sustainable transition to a carbon-neutral future. ISA’s mission is to unlock US$1 trillion of investments in solar by 2030 while reducing the cost of the technology and its financing. It promotes the use of solar energy in the agriculture, health, transport, and power generation sectors. ISA Member Countries are driving change by enacting policies and regulations, sharing best practices, agreeing on common standards, and mobilising investments. Through this work, ISA has identified, designed and tested new business models for solar projects; supported governments to make their energy legislation and policies solar-friendly through Ease of Doing Solar analytics and advisory; pooled demand for solar technology from different countries; and drove down costs; improved access to finance by reducing the risks and making the sector more attractive to private investment; increased access to solar training, data and insights for solar engineers and energy policymakers. With advocacy for solar-powered solutions, ISA aims to transform lives, bring clean, reliable, and affordable energy to communities worldwide, fuel sustainable growth, and improve quality of life. With the signing and ratification of the ISA Framework Agreement by 15 countries on 6 December 2017, ISA became the first international intergovernmental organisation to be headquartered in India. ISA is partnering with multilateral development banks (MDBs), development financial institutions (DFIs), private and public sector organisations, civil society, and other international institutions to deploy cost-effective and transformational solutions through solar energy, especially in the least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The global transition to renewable energy, particularly in Africa, faces significant challenges—many of which are rooted in financial risks, institutional capacity, and investor perception. In this insightful discussion, Dr. Ajay Mathur (former director general of ISA) and Ashish Khanna (newly appointed director general of ISA) explore how innovative financial mechanisms, such as the Global Solar Facility’s guarantee mechanism, can help mitigate perceived risks and attract private investment. Additionally, they highlight the critical role of long-term policy certainty, capacity-building initiatives, and collaborative efforts in fostering a sustainable energy ecosystem. As Africa looks to scale up its renewable infrastructure, the conversation underscores the need for a shared vision and leadership to drive impactful change.
