Understand User Needs - Revision history

Sophia Schneider: /* Existing Tools */

2024-02-06T10:00:28Z

Existing Tools

Sophia Schneider at 09:19, 20 November 2023

2023-11-20T09:19:33Z

Sophia Schneider at 16:24, 14 November 2023

2023-11-14T16:24:41Z

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Sophia Schneider: /* Understanding needs */

2023-11-14T14:59:31Z

Understanding needs

Sophia Schneider: /* Existing Tools */

2023-09-26T06:29:16Z

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Sophia Schneider at 12:40, 19 September 2023

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Sophia Schneider: /* Community-based models */

2023-09-18T15:10:36Z

Community-based models

Hector Alfaro at 08:30, 13 September 2023

2023-09-13T08:30:28Z

Hector Alfaro at 08:29, 13 September 2023

2023-09-13T08:29:31Z

Hector Alfaro: Hector Alfaro moved page Nigeria Off-Grid Solar Knowledge Hub - Understand User Needs to Understand User Needs without leaving a redirect

2023-09-13T07:07:44Z

Hector Alfaro moved page Nigeria Off-Grid Solar Knowledge Hub - Understand User Needs to Understand User Needs without leaving a redirect

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 |Yes
 |The toolkit includes one module that focuses on community involvement in mini grids. It describes approaches for engaging the local community (including women and other marginalized groups), how to assess a community’s energy needs, how to assess community support, types of conflicts that might arise and how to measure social benefits and impacts of a mini grid project.
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 The local population served can also have additional roles in the electrification scheme, i.e. beyond being the users of the services and the customers of the supply company. It can be actively involved in several phases of the project development - including the construction, the operation and the management of the systems<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" />. To ensure the commitment of the community, a strong community representation in the operation and maintenance of a mini-grid is inevitable. Accordingly, comprehensive training is advantageous for a smooth operation<ref name=":10" />.
-One approach that exceeds community engagement are [[Community Power|'''community-based models''']]. Under these models, local communities own, manage, operate and maintain mini-grids. The communities usually receive external help with financing, design and installation. Often, the developer or another outside organization provides technical capacity building, and a public entity or donor provides grants or other financial assistance. Once the mini-grid is installed, the community assumes responsibility for tariff collection and operations and maintenance. Community electricity cooperatives and other local organizations often play this role<ref>USAID. What ownership models are used for mini-grids? <nowiki>https://www.usaid.gov/energy/mini-grids/ownership/models</nowiki></ref>. There is evidence of failed community-based models due to a gap in local capacity and a rushed ownership transfer<ref>Katre, A. and Tozzi, A. (2019) ‘Using hugs, carrots and sticks: How agents exercise power in the transition to community-owned energy systems in remote India’, Energy Research & Social Science, 54, pp. 129–139. Available at: <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2019.04.008</nowiki></ref>.
+One approach that exceeds community engagement are [[Community Power|'''community-based models''']]. Under these models, local communities own, manage, operate and maintain mini-grids. The communities usually receive external help with financing, design and installation. Often, the developer or another outside organization provides technical capacity building, and a public entity or donor provides grants or other financial assistance. Once the mini-grid is installed, the community assumes responsibility for tariff collection and operations and maintenance. Community electricity cooperatives and other local organizations often play this role<ref>USAID. What ownership models are used for mini-grids? <nowiki>https://www.usaid.gov/energy/mini-grids/ownership/models</nowiki></ref>. The success of community-based models is challenged by a number of factors, including a lack of local capacity and a rushed ownership transfer<ref>Katre, A. and Tozzi, A. (2019) ‘Using hugs, carrots and sticks: How agents exercise power in the transition to community-owned energy systems in remote India’, Energy Research & Social Science, 54, pp. 129–139. Available at: <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2019.04.008</nowiki></ref>.
 ===== Challenges =====

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 ==== Understanding needs ====
-When developing an electrification intervention, understanding aspirations and values of the people that get access to the electricity service is as important as solving the economic challenges (e.g. the accessibility and the financial ability to buy the required appliances). There is a diversity of benefits that electricity users can perceive as valuable, such as business opportunity, the elimination of labour intensive tasks, preservation of health, security, the ability to acquire knowledge, and comfort, among others. Understanding and properly addressing these context specific values of a population is an important factor to ensure communities’ endorsement to electrification interventions <ref name=":1">Eder, J. M., Mutsaerts, C. F., & Sriwannawit, P. (2015). Mini-grids and renewable energy in rural Africa: How diffusion theory explains adoption of electricity in Uganda. Energy Research & Social Science, 5, 45–54. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2014.12.014</nowiki></ref><ref name=":2">Hirmer, S., & Guthrie, P. (2017). The benefits of energy appliances in the off-grid energy sector based on seven off-grid initiatives in rural Uganda. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 79, 924–934. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.05.152</nowiki></ref>. The potential effects of access to electricity on practices linked to business activities of the served population are of particular interest in the design and implementation of electrification interventions. These types of effects are often gathered under the term “[[Productive Use of Electricity|productive use of electricity]]” (PUE).
+When developing an electrification intervention, understanding aspirations and values of the people that get access to the electricity service is as important as solving the economic challenges (e.g. the accessibility and the financial ability to buy the required appliances). There is a diversity of benefits that electricity users can perceive as valuable, such as business opportunity, the elimination of labour intensive tasks, preservation of health, security, the ability to acquire knowledge, and comfort, among others. Understanding and properly addressing these context specific values of a population is an important factor to ensure communities’ endorsement to electrification interventions <ref name=":1">Eder, J. M., Mutsaerts, C. F., & Sriwannawit, P. (2015). Mini-grids and renewable energy in rural Africa: How diffusion theory explains adoption of electricity in Uganda. Energy Research & Social Science, 5, 45–54. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2014.12.014</nowiki></ref><ref name=":2">Hirmer, S., & Guthrie, P. (2017). The benefits of energy appliances in the off-grid energy sector based on seven off-grid initiatives in rural Uganda. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 79, 924–934. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.05.152</nowiki></ref>. The potential effects of access to electricity on practices linked to business activities of the served population are of particular interest in the design and implementation of electrification interventions. These types of effects are often gathered under the term “[[Productive Use of Electricity|productive use of electricity]]” (PUE). The [[PeopleSuN Qualitative Data|PeopleSuN qualitative study]] addresses the importance of understanding the needs of potential electricity end-users by exploring energy needs and motivations in rural and peri-urban areas of Nigeria.
 ==== Securing trustful communication====

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 | Yes
 |The survey data within the PeopleSuN project comprise responses from 3,599 households and 1,122 enterprises. The survey included a set of questions specifically designed to ascertain the ownership of electrical appliances, as well as the timing of their usage during both the day and night. The dataset is publicly available on [https://dataverse.harvard.edu/dataset.xhtml?persistentId=doi:10.7910/DVN/GTNEJD PeopleSuN Harvard dataverse] for the open access of academic community, local stakeholders and international initiatives.
 |-
 |'''[https://ruralsenses.com/user-perceived-value/ Rural Senses User-Perceived Value approach]'''

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 The local population served can also have additional roles in the electrification scheme, i.e. beyond being the users of the services and the customers of the supply company. The local population can be actively involved in several phases of the project development - including the construction, the operation and the management of the systems<ref>Höffken, J.I. (2016) ‘Demystification and localization in the adoption of micro-hydro technology: Insights from India’, ''Energy Research & Social Science'', 22, pp. 172–182. Available at: <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2016.09.002</nowiki>.</ref><ref>Madriz-Vargas, R., Bruce, A. and Watt, M. (2018) ‘The future of Community Renewable Energy for electricity access in rural Central America’, ''Energy Research & Social Science'', 35, pp. 118–131. Available at: <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2017.10.015</nowiki>.</ref><ref>Katre, A., Tozzi, A. and Bhattacharyya, S. (2019) ‘Sustainability of community-owned mini-grids: evidence from India’, ''Energy, Sustainability and Society'', 9(1), p. 2. Available at: <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-018-0185-9</nowiki>.</ref><ref>Bloem, S., Swilling, M. and Koranteng, K. (2021) ‘Taking energy democracy to the streets: Socio-technical learning, institutional dynamism, and integration in South African community energy projects’, ''Energy Research & Social Science'', 72, p. 101906. Available at: <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101906</nowiki>.</ref>.
-==== Addressing structures of inequality ====
+==== <s>Addressing structures of inequality</s> Consider aspects of gender equality ====
-It becomes increasingly important to view the needs and constraints of different groups through an energy justice framework. Studies find a strong risk of implementing rural electrification interventions that do not represent a sustainable solution to the structural drivers of energy poverty and do not have the capacity to address social inequalities (Samarakoon, 2020, Monyei et al 2018). This also includes interventions that are addressing productive uses. For example, Sahrakorpi and Bandi (2021) find that programmes promoting use of rice husk processing appliances among women in rural North India led to formal employment opportunities, but their presence did not secure long-lasting women’s empowerment.
+<s>It becomes increasingly important to view the needs and constraints of different groups through an energy justice framework. Studies find a strong risk of implementing rural electrification interventions that do not represent a sustainable solution to the structural drivers of energy poverty and do not have the capacity to address social inequalities (Samarakoon, 2020, Monyei et al 2018). This also includes interventions that are addressing productive uses. For example, Sahrakorpi and Bandi (2021) find that programmes promoting use of rice husk processing appliances among women in rural North India led to formal employment opportunities, but their presence did not secure long-lasting women’s empowerment.</s>
 ==== Community-based models ====
 ==Existing Tools==

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 The process of implementing a new local energy system implies introducing a series of changes in the physical and immaterial aspects of the lives of the local population. It is essential to engage local actors in all the phases of project development – i.e. in the process of introducing changes in their lives – in order to secure sustainable operation of the systems as well as to deliver effective development impacts<ref>Liu, Y., & Bah, Z. (2021). Enabling development impact of solar mini-grids through the community engagement: Evidence from rural Sierra Leone. Energy Policy, 154, 112294. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112294</nowiki></ref><ref name=":3">Tomei, J., Cronin, J., Arias, H. D. A., Machado, S. C., Palacios, M. F. M., Ortiz, Y. M. T., Cuesta, Y. E. B., Lemus, R. P., López, W. M., & Anandarajah, G. (2020). Forgotten spaces: How reliability, affordability and engagement shape the outcomes of last-mile electrification in Chocó, Colombia. Energy Research & Social Science, 59, 101302. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2019.101302</nowiki></ref>.
-One crucial issue is the building and maintaining of trustful communication. This is key in order to build proper understanding of the needs of the users and to ensure that all the actors involved or affected by the electrification initiative understand the project objectives, potential benefits as well as its limitations, i.e. for proper management of expectations<ref name=":1" />. This implies for instance securing mutual understanding about important design parameters such as [[tariffs]], the costs and rules for connection, the power or the amount of energy available to single users, the schedule of the energy provision, the operation and management arrangements<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" />.
+One crucial issue is the building and maintaining of trustful communication. This is key in order to build proper understanding of the needs of the users and to ensure that all the actors involved or affected by the electrification initiative understand the project objectives, potential benefits as well as its limitations, i.e. for proper management of expectations<ref name=":1" />. This implies for instance securing mutual understanding about important design parameters such as [[Tariffs|tariffs]], the costs and rules for connection, the power or the amount of energy available to single users, the schedule of the energy provision, the operation and management arrangements<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" />.
 Local factors influencing such design parameters can be difficult to determine ex-ante and might become apparent first after the implementation or even the operation of the systems has started. It is also difficult to foresee how the practices of the users will evolve once the use of electricity is integrated in their lives. Thus, maintaining communication channels and – more generally – engagement with the users can be crucial also for managing the future evolution of the systems<ref>Batidzirai, B. ''et al.'' (2021) ‘Towards people-private-public partnerships: An integrated community engagement model for capturing energy access needs’, ''Energy Research & Social Science'', 74, p. 101975. Available at: <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.101975</nowiki>.</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" />.

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 !Description
 |-
-|[[Nigeria Off-Grid Solar Knowledge Hub - PeopleSuN Survey Data|PeopleSuN Survey Data]]
+|[[PeopleSuN_Survey_Data|PeopleSuN Survey Data]]
 |Yes
 |Yes