Description:
Rwanda is one of the first countries to use a Sector Wide-Approach (SWAp) in the energy sector to increase access to electricity. The SWAp emerged in the 1990s as an alternative to traditional development aid. The SWAp-based on a country-led, results-focused framework-encourages engagement across all sector stakeholders to ensure that investments work together to contribute to desired outcomes. With the assistance of energy sector management assistance program's Africa Renewable Energy Access (AFREA) program. This report provides a number of key lessons realized from the Rwanda energy SWAp for development partners and governments considering using such an approach. Country and government ownership and leadership is essential for efficient program planning and implementation, as is an alignment with national priorities and policies. In 2009, Rwanda initiated a SWAp in the energy sector to help achieve its target of increasing access to electricity from 6 percent of the population to 16 percent over a five-year period, through 2013. The ongoing program also focuses on providing off-grid access to electricity for schools, hospitals, and administrative buildings that would not have electricity otherwise. The SWAp's main objectives include: determining a high-level investment and capacity building plan for sustainable and predictable financing over the term of the program; enabling electricity access expansion to meet Rwanda's national targets; and attaining supply adequacy by expanding generation capacity by qualified independent power producers