This report provides an overview of the status of electricity in five countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria and Tanzania. It presents evidence on the cost-effectiveness of decentralised renewable electricity, compared to the status quo of fossil fuel electricity access. This is followed by evidence on the benefits of decentralised renewable electricity access as an enabler for poverty reduction, economic development, climate change mitigation and contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It highlights, in particular, the linkages between SDG 7 (energy access) and SDG 3 (healthy lives), SDG 4 (equitable and inclusive education), SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 8 (economic growth, employment and decent work) and SDG 13 (tackling climate change). The study also looks at the policy barriers, enablers and opportunities for off-grid renewable electricity in these five countries.

Commissioned by Tearfund and developed by the Overseas Development Institute, the study reviews the impact and value for money of off-grid renewable electricity for poverty reduction and economic development. It focuses on three main questions:

1. What is the value for money of investing in off-grid renewable electricity for people living in poverty in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia?

2. What is the impact of off-grid renewable electricity solutions on poverty reduction, economic development and the environment?

3. How does the value for money and impact compare with that of energy powered by fossil fuels

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