Publication database

Foreign companies operating in a ‘host’ country’s private sector play an important role in fostering inclusive development in these nations. This PhD thesis, exploring the contributions of the Dutch private sector to inclusive development in Kenya’s three most important sectors, tea, flower and renewable energy, finds that private companies operate in a very specific context and must adapt to existing local circumstances that are often not automatically inclusive.

This case study looks at the opportunity, challenges and lessons learned from Anadarko Mozambique Area 1, a development project being operated by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation to construct a liquefied natural gas (LNG) park. To ensure Mozambican companies are prepared to compete for the business opportunities that will accompany AMA1’s construction, Anadarko is working with PYXERA Global, an international economic development organisation, to localise the project’s supply chain.

Case study on Sahelia Solar, an eco-inclusive enterprise that specialises in the design and supply of a range of solar energy systems. Sahelia Solar operates in three main sectors; residential, commercial and industrial, and offers both pre-pay and pay-as-you-go (PAYG) models. The product range comprises solar back-up systems as an alternative energy source for customers who are already connected to the national energy network, solar kits for rural and remote communities who require night-time lighting, and solar hot water systems.

Mini-grids could help unlock inclusive growth in remote rural areas, but few proactively stimulate productive uses of electricity, as this often requires resource-consuming actions and expertise. This paper characterises the current mini-grids’ industry, taking into account operators’ models and strategies. It then focuses on a new and sophisticated private initiative in Tanzania that aims to build energy use and bring a strong added value to rural areas. It ends with recommendations for helping such private actors develop the areas they serve.

In Tanzania there are huge opportunities for ambitious energy access investments to increase rural productivity, including milling, irrigation and small and microenterprises. This paper examines the experiences of two mini-hydro projects and a solar-diesel mini-grid project in Tanzania. All three projects are exploring ways to combine energy with wider rural development processes. The paper investigates what interventions work, and offers recommendations for new entrants, policymakers and funders.

The article assesses the business model and the social, environmental and economic impact of the 2009 founded Ugandan enterprise Solar Sister that trains women to be entrepreneurs for clean energy products.

This paper is one of 13 country studies on access to energy in Sub-Saharan Africa. It describes the current situation for off-grid solutions in Ghana and identifies key policy measures to enable accelerated access to electricity.

This paper is one of 13 country studies on access to energy in Sub-Saharan Africa. It describes the current situation for off-grid solutions in Somalia and identifies key policy measures to enable accelerated access to electricity.

This paper is one of 13 country studies on access to energy in Sub-Saharan Africa. It describes the current situation for off-grid solutions in Tanzania and identifies key policy measures to enable accelerated access to electricity.