Impact Evaluation of the Rwandan Electricity Access Roll-out Program

The Rwandan Electricity Access Roll-Out Program (EARP) is one of the most ambitious electrification interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa endowed with a budget of USD 377 million. Against the background of a low electrification rate in Rwanda of around 6 percent, the EARP aims at increasing the total number of household and enterprise connections from 100,000 to 350,000 by 2013, thereby reaching an electrification rate of 16 percent. Additionally, 100 percent of health stations and government offices and 50 percent of schools shall be connected to the national grid by then. As part of the series of impact evaluations of development activities supported by the Netherlands on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, RWI assesses the socio-economic impact of EARP. Between April and June 2011, a baseline survey has been implemented, for which 1,500 households located in non-electrified rural areas all over Rwanda were interviewed. By comparing the over time difference in the performance of the by then EARP-electrified households to those households that stay non-electrified, insights can be gained about how the electrification changes the socio-economic living conditions of the households. Various aspects like expenditure and income structure, safety perceptions, changes in the daily routines and activities after nightfall, changes of attitudes and behavior, and changes in school enrolment and attendance are measured and assessed as indicators for the socio-economic changes. In addition to the household survey, electricity usage and its impacts in social institutions and enterprises will be examined as well using qualitative interviews.