Rural electrification

Electricity clearly improves people’s quality of life. But in Rwanda, even one decade after communities were connected, rural electrification had limited effects on incomes, employment, and broader economic development.

Electrification is often seen as the spark for development. But in much of Africa, the biggest benefits may come not from households plugging in, but from the community services that light up around them.

Despite the potential of solar power in sub-Saharan Africa, many rural households opt for low-quality solar products due to lack of affordability and information. A field experiment in Senegal shows that third-party certificates and warranties increa...

The economic benefits of expanding electricity access likely do not outweigh the costs in small rural villages, but likely do in larger communities.

Free electricity connections in rural South African households changed home production technologies and induced more women to work in the market

Kenya's work connecting rural communities to the national electricity grid allows us to examine the impact of electrification on people's lives