Capacity Development for Scaling up Decentralized Energy Access (Lessons from Nepal on its role, costs, and financing)

Micro hydro power is ideally suited to meeting the energy needs of remote communities.A national micro hydro programme has been operating for more than a decade in Nepal. Similarly a fuel-wood-conserving cooking stoves programme has been operating in Nepal for decades. Capacity development for scaling up decentralized energy access programmes describes these two programmes and takes an in-depth look at the role of capacity development in scaling up from pilot projects to national programmes. Although it takes considerable upfront public investment to kick-start capacity development, once these investments have been made they can attract substantial financing from private sources at later programme stages. It also explores potential future trends in programme costs and financing sources. It makes the case for upfront public investments to develop national and local capacities for scaling up rural energy services delivery, and to catalyse private financing.