Power to the people: do with or do for? : Exploring community agency in African mini-grids

Eales, Aran (2024) Power to the people: do with or do for? : Exploring community agency in African mini-grids. Community Energy and the Sustainable Energy Transition (CESET).

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Abstract

The deployment of mini-grids represents a transformative opportunity for enhancing energy access in Africa. Achieving this potential requires prioritising community engagement, adopting sustainable business practices, and ensuring equitable financing. By fostering inclusive energy solutions that empower local communities, stakeholders can significantly contribute to the realisation of SDG7 and support broader development goals. Transforming rural communities requires providing energy alongside enabling broader socio-economic development and improving the quality of life for millions across Africa. Access to reliable electricity remains a critical challenge for many communities in Africa, impeding economic growth and social development. Mini-grids offer a decentralised solution to address these challenges by providing affordable and clean energy. However, the effectiveness of mini-grids is contingent upon understanding the unique needs of local communities and promoting active participation in energy governance. This report examines communities' pivotal role in establishing and maintaining decentralised energy infrastructure, focusing on mini-grids in Sub-Saharan Africa. By exploring approaches to mini-grid deployment across the continent, the report illuminates the multifaceted dynamics shaping energy transitions in rural African contexts. Central to the analysis is an investigation into the agency of rural communities in the planning, operation, and ownership of mini-grids. By scrutinising the roles assumed by communities, ranging from active participation as stakeholders to passive beneficiaries or customers, the report sheds light on the varying degrees of community empowerment within different mini-grid business models and the implications on sustainability and impact on the community. The report provides a comparative analysis of community engagement strategies based on diverse case studies encompassing private sector enterprises, social enterprises, and cooperative ventures. It evaluates the extent of investment directed towards community involvement, alongside mechanisms employed to assess the socio-economic impact of minigrid projects on local populations. Key findings indicate that while private sector involvement can quickly scale solutions and accelerate deployment, cooperative and social enterprise models better deliver on social equity and community empowerment goals, foster deeper local engagement, and secure long-term viability. Effective community involvement in mini-grid projects is essential for sustainability, and projects that prioritise local governance tend to yield better social outcomes. There is a significant need for training local technicians and community members in the technical and operational aspects of mini-grid management, and, more broadly, for capacity building around mini-grid business models that balance affordability for consumers and financial viability for operators. There is a lack of comprehensive data on the social impacts of mini-grids, necessitating standardised metrics for assessment. A comparative analysis of mini-grid initiatives and perceived best practices inform actionable recommendations for policymakers, donors, and practitioners to promote community-led mini-grids. Equitable financing, transparent and clear regulation of community involvement in mini-grids, and promoting local capacity are some salient routes of action.

ORCID iDs

Eales, Aran ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9090-529X;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)