The simple thing highlights seven key areas to consider, outlines theories of change to inform decision-making stages from concepts to influence, and provides an evidence base to inform donor selection regarding the composition of energy portfolio at various stages of development. The authors also provide recommendations for evaluating proposed and implemented projects.
Key Message
Economic development requires access to reliable and affordable electricity, but it is not a guarantee. A review of the literature on renewable energy and clean cooking interventions, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, reveals seven key areas of interventions, each with distinct dynamics. Transmissions are becoming a bottleneck. However, externally funded submission projects with independent operators offer a promising way for struggling utilities. Low consumption rates, poor utility conditions, and lack of affordability make on-grid power access difficult. Off-grid power access has been improved and improved through innovation. Nevertheless, many companies offering off-grid services struggle to maintain profitability. Clean interventions have low adoption rates due to affordable constraints and designs that are primarily focused on user preferences. Evaluating knowledge sharing and capacity building interventions is particularly difficult. Nevertheless, a long-term, programmatic, and co-designed approach is promising. Policy reform is key to ensuring that investments generate profits designed to achieve. However, reform interventions are difficult due to lack of both local buy-in and trust, focusing on functional forms.
Literature review and integration was carried out as part of ongoing work in the Energy Section at the Norwegian Development Cooperation Agency (Development Cooperation Agency)Nord).
