Access to Energy Services for the Rural Poor: Priorities, Processes and Innovative Solutions from the Field

Hundreds of millions of people in rural areas do not have access to modern energy services, creating a severe impediment to eradicating poverty, meeting the Millennium Development Goals, and improving health, education, economic opportunity and social development. This comprehensive manual details the latest knowledge about energy supply worldwide in terms of provision, policy, and how it can be implemented and extended at national, regional and local levels. The book comprises five core themes: integrating energy access concerns into macro and sectoral policy strategies; delivering energy services through institutions; developing productive/income-generating activities such as household/micro ventures using energy services; financing for rural energy services for the poor; and, linking micro (downstream) evidence to macro development. The manual is the authoritative source of information for those in government, business and industry, and development and aid, who are addressing the problems and opportunities of supplying reliable, sustainable energy to the hundreds of millions of rural poor. It is published with UNDP.