Equity issues need to be carefully considered and addressed in beneficiary selection and targeting. The potential for political influence in the selection of communities that would benefit from grid connection was identified as a risk. To mitigate this risk, independent consultants were engaged to develop the beneficiary selection criteria, which would eventually stipulate that (i) customers were to be within 250 meters of the transmission line, (ii) construction of the property had to be sound, and (iii) households must have the financial means to pay for the electricity provided. The executing agency noted that to avail of the free electricity connection worth about $550, rural households relocated to areas close to the transmission line corridors. Equity questions like how the project would differently benefit customers, e.g., those living near a transmission line over those living a short distance away, and how poorer customers would be better included should have been considered at the project concept stage.
Improved Energy Access for Rural Communities