TOWARDS AN ‘ENERGY PLUS’ APPROACH FOR THE POOR: A review of good practices and lessons learned from Asia and the Pacific, 2012. UNDP.
The 17 reviewed energy access programmes and projects have brought improvements to the quality of lives of communities in terms of energy cost savings, health, education, communication, access to information and women’s empowerment, thus contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. In addition, initiatives that promote lowemission technologies contribute to the global climate change agenda.
The impact of energy access projects on livelihoods and incomes is less visible. This is because most energy access projects adopt a ‘minimalist’ approach, focusing on the basic energy needs of the poor (lighting homes, cooking, heating).
While the importance of these cannot be overemphasized, such a strategy is not sufficient for effective poverty reduction. On the other hand, projects that complement energy service provision with measures that raise incomes and improve livelihoods – e.g. improving access to information, market linkages, business development services and access to capital – show tremendous promise in poverty reduction and economic and human development. Such ‘Energy Plus’ initiatives, however, are few in number and are yet to be scaled up in terms of the number of people reached.
The report highlights that breaking through the energy-poverty cycle is best achieved by combining the delivery of energy services with measures that generate cash incomes. This ‘Energy Plus’ approach has the greatest potential for reducing poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The report identifies good practices and lessons learned for making a transition to this approach, in areas of energy service
delivery, financing and mainstreaming.
