The multidimensional impact of rural and urban electrification: economic development, security and conservation? Follow-up research in Eastern Congo.

We measure the impact of electricity provision on economic development, security and conservation. Our case study focuses on rural and urban communities nearby Virunga National Park, in DR Congo. Impoverished by armed conflict, the communities complement their livelihoods with the park's resources to make ends meet. These resources are also illicitly exploited by several armed groups that have their hideouts within the park's boundaries. The electricity rollout is implemented by Virunga Alliance. According to their theory of change, electrification will spur development, which will in turn reduce people's reliance on the park's resources and their support for rebel groups. The theory of change finds support in the literature, but needs further testing. To learn about the causal effect of electrification, we designed an impact evaluation that compares time trends in socio-economic development, conservation and security across treatment and control localities. Treatment localities are being connected in the period 2019-2020; control localities only at a later stage. We are currently halfway the baseline data collection in treatment and control localities before the onset of electrification. The final baseline data will contain census information on about 72,000 households and 3,200 firms, and a detailed structured survey among a stratified random sample of 2,400 households and 800 firms. We are seeking to fund follow-up research in order to complete the impact evaluation.

Keywords:APPLIED DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS

Disciplines:Agricultural and natural resource economics, environmental and ecological economics, Economic development, Household behaviour and family organisations