The need for transitioning towards low-carbon energy systems, and the recent boom in available data, allows for a constant re-evaluation of global electricity sector decarbonization progress, and its underlying theoretical assumptions. Arguably, the existing decarbonization literature and institutional support frameworks focus on top-down supply side mechanisms, where policies, goals, access to financing, and technology innovation are suggested as the main drivers. Here, we synthesize eleven global datasets that range from electricity decarbonization progress, to quality of governance, to international fossil fuel subsidies, and environmental policies, amongst several others, and use methods from data mining to explore the factors that may be fostering or hindering decarbonization progress. This exercise allows us to present numerous hypotheses worth exploring in future research. Some of these hypotheses suggest that policies might be ineffective when misaligned with country specific motivators and inherent characteristics, that even in the absence of policy there are particular inherent characteristics that foster decarbonization progress (e.g., relatively high local energy prices, foreign energy import dependency and the absence of a large extractive resource base), and that the interaction of country-specific enabling environments, inherent characteristics, and motivations is what determines decarbonization progress, rather than stand-alone support mechanisms. We present the hypothesis that existing support mechanisms for decarbonization may be relying too much on blanket strategies (e.g., policies, targets), and that there is a need for support mechanisms that encompass a wider diversity of country-specific underlying conditions.

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Developing countries around the world have implemented Community Health Worker (CHW) programs to improve community health through education, advocacy and direct assistance. CHWs have repeatedly proven their ability to mitigate the growing double disease burden of infectious and chronic illnesses. At the same time, a lack of tangible incentives for CHWs leads to high attrition rates, poor efficiency and lack of coordination and accountability. In the quest for transforming CHWs from volunteers to entrepreneurs, a typology of eight business models where CHWs function as the channels and champions for global health projects has been articulated. In parallel, the literature on the failure modes of telemedicine, eHealth and mHealth ventures is gradually growing and providing new insights and practical design lessons. This article synthesizes the business models and failure modes, i.e. it discusses the primary failure modes for each of the eight business models for sustainable CHW projects and programs. This knowledge is pivotal for innovators and entrepreneurs seeking to engage local entrepreneurs and CHWs to operationalize interventions that tackle last mile health care challenges while creating jobs or providing frameworks for income generation and entrepreneurship.

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