Journal of E-Governance and Digital Transformation in Africa (Technology | 03 March 2011
Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation of Off-Grid Community Energy Systems in Tanzania Using Quasi-Experimental Design
M, i, k, u, s, i, k, a, B, w, i, r, e, ,, M, a, w, a, n, d, a, S, i, m, b, a, ,, K, i, s, i, t, u, M, w, i, h, a, k, i
Abstract
Off-grid community energy systems are increasingly adopted in rural Tanzania to address electricity access challenges. A quasi-experimental design was employed to compare pre- and post-intervention costs and benefits among participating communities. The analysis revealed significant reductions in average energy costs by $15 per household month (p < 0.05), with notable improvements in access reliability. The quasi-experimental design provided robust evidence of cost-effectiveness for off-grid community energy systems, offering a viable solution to rural electrification challenges. Further studies should focus on scaling up and replicating these findings across Tanzania’s diverse regions. Off-grid communities, Energy access, Cost-effectiveness, Quasi-experimental design, Rural electrification Model estimation used $\hat{\theta}=argmin<em>{\theta}\sum</em>i\ell(y<em>i,f</em>\theta(x<em>i))+\lambda\lVert\theta\rVert</em>2^2$, with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.