Luces Nuevas Experience Lighting Rural Bolivia: A Way to Reach SDG 7

Abstract

United Nations SDG 7 is that, by 2030, there will be an affordable, reliable and clean universal access to energy (UAE). To reach this goal, technological and social issues should be considered jointly. In this paper, the approach used by the Non-Governmental Organization “Luces Nuevas Internacional” is presented. Luces Nuevas has successfully provided basic electricity access to sparse rural communities in rural Bolivia. This paper emphasizes the methodological aspects of the approach. The key ingredient to the success is the involvement of all the stakeholders in all steps of the solution. In this way, end users feel the solution as their solution. Therefore, they are willing to use and properly maintain the devices that they buy to obtain electricity access. The case of the Tipas community shows that this approach can provide access to energy to every family that desires it. The experience shows that reaching SDG 7 requires taking into account not only the technological and economic aspects, but also the social aspects of the problem. End users involvement, from the beginning, of an electrification project is key to its success.

Contribution of Rural Electrification in Improving People’s Livelihood in Tanzania: A Case of Mpanda District, Tanzania

“…There are now more than 5 welding workshops in the village" (Respondents 24, 26th Aug 2022).Therefore, electrification is an important factor for sustainability of businesses. The findings are similar to those of studies conducted by Vela-Cobos et al (2021) and Lozano and Taboada (2021) who discovered that different economic activities were being performed in rural areas as a result of rural electrification with the intention of increasing household income earnings (add some more literature to support the findings of your study.…”

“…Rural electrification in Bolivia resulted in significant improvements and growth of various income generating activities in rural areas such as cottage factories, welding services, grocery stores that sell cold drinks, garages and tailoring services. These revenue producing services increased family income and enhanced the rural livelihood (Vela-Cobos, Cavero, Platero, & Sánchez-Fernández, 2021). In his study on rural electrification expansion and its role in shaping agriculture and food security in India, Ray (2021) found that Indian rural electrification served people in agriculture sector through irrigation scheme.…”

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“…Regarding social sustainability, two studies show how it is possible to carry out successful projects such as helping livestock farmers through modernization, the first for milk production in Europe [32] and the second to bring electricity to rural sectors; these projects can be carried out considering non-governmental approaches [30]. Based on another article from small-scale agri-food farms, this one shows that communicating sustainability is challenging when local food production is not well supported [47].…”

“…According to the United Nations SDG 7, the goal is to achieve universal access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy by 2030. Based on a particular case study, experience shows that achieving the SDG requires considering the problem's technological, economic, and social aspects [30].…”

The Future of the SDGs: A Comparative Constitutional Rescue Plan?

“…171 The country has made progress in providing basic electricity access to rural communities, a key component of SDG 7. 172 In 2020, 84.7% of the population had access to improved sources of water and 62.5% had access to basic sanitation. 173 Forestry practices, however, continue to echo the commercial priorities of the neoliberal era, posing a significant obstacle to the post-neoliberal vision of a more sustainable and equitable relationship with nature.…”