Community participation in the renewable energy sector in Tanzania: Community participation in the renewable energy sector

Abstract

Community participation (CP) is emphasized in the planning and implementation of the various projects and sector. Renewable energy (RE) sector like other sectors requires community participation for its effectiveness and efficiency. This review aims at exploring the community participation in the renewable sector in Tanzania. Five themes were identified for through literature review where a Seven-Step Model for comprehensive literature review was used. These themes include (i) access to information on RE resources; (ii) community awareness of the RE technologies and related policies, laws, and regulations; (iii) RE as the source of employment opportunities; and (iv) RE as an alternative to fossil fuels and for poverty alleviation. These study revealed that despite the different efforts taken by the government and other energy stakeholders the community still lack enough information and awareness about renewable energy technologies, institutional and regulatory framework. However, the interesting issue is that renewable energy sectors play an important role in providing employment opportunities to the local communities. Moreover, the use of renewable energy has contributed to poverty alleviation. For instance, hydropower has an increase in electricity supply, solar energy has improved the local households’ standard of living, education and health services. It is recommended that the government and other energy stakeholders should cooperate to provide more information and awareness of renewable energy technologies to the community. This should be accompanied by the introduction of the national policy and law which is specifically for renewable energy to enable its development. Community participation (CP) is emphasized in the planning and implementation of the various projects and sector. Renewable energy (RE) sector like other sectors requires community participation for its effectiveness and efficiency. This review aims at exploring the community participation in the renewable sector in Tanzania. Five themes were identified for through literature review where a Seven-Step Model for comprehensive literature review was used. These themes include (i) access to information on RE resources; (ii) community awareness of the RE technologies and related policies, laws, and regulations; (iii) RE as the source of employment opportunities; and (iv) RE as an alternative to fossil fuels and for poverty alleviation. These study revealed that despite the different efforts taken by the government and other energy stakeholders the community still lack enough information and awareness about renewable energy technologies, institutional and regulatory framework. However, the interesting issue is that renewable energy sectors play an important role in providing employment opportunities to the local communities. Moreover, the use of renewable energy has contributed to poverty alleviation. For instance, hydropower has an increase in electricity supply, solar energy has improved the local households’ standard of living, education and health services. It is recommended that the government and other energy stakeholders should cooperate to provide more information and awareness of renewable energy technologies to the community. This should be accompanied by the introduction of the national policy and law which is specifically for renewable energy to enable its development.