Decentralized Energy Access and the Millennium Development Goals An Analysis of the Development Benefits of Micro Hydropower in Rural Nepal

About this book

Decentralized, off-grid power supplies such as microhydropower can be perceived as expensive investments by poor countries like Nepal. Can these investments be justified by the benefits that electricity brings to villages in remote mountainous regions?

Decentralized Energy Access and the Millennium Development Goals describes research into the development gains brought to such villages, measured in terms of progress towards achieving the millennium development goals. Indicators relating to income, education, gender equality, maternal and child health and environmental impact were measured in villages benefiting from micro hydropower, compared with neighbouring villages without an electricity supply.

Decentralized Energy Access and the Millennium Development Goals provides conclusive evidence of these transformative benefits and recommends that Nepal, and countries like it, scale up investments in its microhydropower programme. Published in association with UNDP and AEP, Nepal.

Contents

Prelims (Preface)

1. Introduction
2. Methodology
3. Electricity access accelerates achievement of the MDGs in rural areas
4. Policy implications and conclusions

Back Matter (Annexes, References)

Customer Reviews

Biography

Gwenaelle Legros is consultant with the Sustainable Energy Programme within UNDP's Environment and Energy Group in New York. She has been working over the last ten years in the fields of energy and sustainable development conducting research, statistical and analytical work or implementing renewable energy projects in developing countries.

Kamal Rijal is a Policy Advisor with the Sustainable Energy Programme within UNDP's Environment and Energy Group in New York. Prior to joining UNDP, he served as an Energy Specialist with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development and as a Senior Advisor with the Government of Nepal's National Planning Commission.

Bahareh Seyedi is an Energy Policy Specialist with the Sustainable Energy Programme within the Environment and Energy Group of UNDP in New York. Prior to this she was posted at UNDP in Burkina Faso where she managed multiple projects in the area of energy and environment. She has also worked with civil society organizations, leading several international development projects in Central America and South East Asia.