Environment and Resources

Project: The Effects of Market-based Reforms on Access to Electricity in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review of the Evidence on Effectiveness, Cost-effectiveness and Mechanisms

Project Duration

04/2013 - 03/2016 (finalized)

Commissioned by

Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD), formerly CIDA

Project Team (RWI)

Dr. Gunther Bensch, Dr. Jörg Langbein, Prof. Dr. Jörg Peters, Dr. Maximiliane Sievert

Cooperation

IB&C Rwanda

Leader of Consortium

RWI

Summary

Efforts to electrify the developing world have been further brought to the top of the international development agenda through the launch of the United Nations ‘Sustainable Energy for All’ initiative in 2011. One of the three interlinked objectives is to provide universal access to modern energy by 2030. The challenge is enormous with annual investment needs of US$ 45 billion per year, more than five times the level of 2012. Market-based electricity sector reforms are seen by some as a cost-effective element of such efforts towards an increased (and ultimately universal) access to electricity through a more efficient provision of electricity. The purpose of this review is to systematically summarize the empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of market-based reforms including privatisation, private sector involvement, decentralisation, liberalisation and changes in the electricity tariff design. The review is one of eight systematic reviews funded in the framework of the ‘Systematic Reviews Call 5’ launched by the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie). The review includes an extensive and structured study search as well as data extraction and synthesis and dissemination activities.

Selected project related publications

Other Publications

2016

Bensch, G., M. Sievert, J. Langbein and N. Kneppel (2016), Effects and mechanisms of market-based reforms on access to electricity in developing countries: a systematic review. 3ie Systematic Review.

2015

Bensch, G., A. Munyehirwe, J. Peters and M. Sievert (2015), Protocol: The Effects of Market-based Reforms on Access to Electricity in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review of the Evidence on Effectiveness, Cost-effectiveness and Mechanisms. 3ie. download