Access to energy services for the rural poor

This article, based on case studies in poor rural areas of Tanzania, Vietnam and Bolivia which took place between April 2001 and September 2001, analyzes how to improve access to energy for the rural poor, with the idea that improving access to energy can reduce rural poverty and start an autonomous development process. Rural poverty reduction as we see it is not only the increase of monetary income, but refers to improved education and health access, and increased (agricultural) productivity as well. The rural poor in the studied communities are largely dependent on fuel wood for cooking and human energy for productive activities. Our most important recommendation for energy introductions is to focus on productive energy introductions at the communal level, with open (paid) access for all in the community. Introductions at the household level will often exclude the poorest people, whereas the provision of energy by either elites, the community as an entity or the market (with flexible provision criteria) reduces the largest barrier to energy improvements – high initial costs – to a shared investment and thus makes it more realistic for the poorest. Once the energy improvement has taken place, the eventual poverty reduction will depend on the use people make of the energy services, which consequently is dependent on constraints and capabilities of individuals, the community and the market.