WIDER Seminar Series - Philip Verwimp on impacts of an off-grid energy project

Philip Verwimp, Professor at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, will present at the WIDER Seminar Series spring sneak-peak on 14 February 2018. Please note that pre-registration is not necessary for this event.

Abstract – Impact evaluation of an off-grid energy project in rural Burundi

The paper presents an impact evaluation of a rural off-grid energy project. In order to increase the use and availability of electrical light among households in rural Burundi, we randomized the presence of bicycles to recharge lamps among 63 villages. The management of the bicycle and the recharge of the lamps was in the hands of village-based organizations (VBO) who made some profit out of it. We find uptake is rather low, and identify some hurdles. Lamps mostly replaced battery lamps, kerosene, and candles within surveyed households. We also find a welfare increase among household in treated villages, in particular among members of the VBO. We do not see improvements in health and education, most likely because the intervention does not address the main energy source used for cooking; i.e. wood and grass.

WIDER Seminar Series

The WIDER Seminar Series showcases recent and ongoing work on key topics in development economics. The weekly sessions held in Helsinki are open to local and visiting researchers, policy makers, and others interested in development topics. Click here to see the spring 2018 schedule and learn more.