世界发展银行-Niger---Beyond-Connections---Energy-Access-Diagnostic-Report-Based-on-the-Multi-Tier-Framework_78页_12mb

Energy Access Diagnostic Report for Niger Based on the Multi-Tier Framework

Core Content

This report presents an energy access diagnostic for Niger using the Multi-Tier Framework (MTF), which evaluates access to electricity and modern energy cooking solutions across multiple dimensions. The MTF approach provides a more detailed and nuanced understanding of energy access than traditional binary indicators, capturing the range of technologies and user experiences.

Main Viewpoints

• Energy Access in Niger: Niger is a large, landlocked, and mostly arid country in the Sahel region with a population of around 22.4 million. Despite progress in poverty reduction, extreme poverty remains high at 41.5% in 2019, affecting over 9 million people. The country is vulnerable to climate risks and insecurity.
• Electricity Access: As of 2018, only 19.5% of households had access to electricity, either through the national grid or off-grid sources. Most households (80.5%) had no access. Grid access is significantly higher in urban areas (45.4%) than in rural areas (7.3%).
• Modern Energy Cooking Solutions: The majority of households (81.6%) rely on biomass fuels, with three-stone stoves being the most common. Only 1.5% use improved cookstoves, and LPG is predominantly used in urban areas (0.3% in rural areas). Most households (94.4%) are in Tier 0 or 1 for cooking solutions, indicating limited access to modern technologies.
• Gender Analysis: Female-headed households are less likely to have access to electricity and modern cooking solutions than male-headed ones. They are also more likely to use traditional biomass stoves and less likely to have access to formal electricity services. However, the gender gap in MTF tiers is relatively small.
• Policy and Investment Needs: The report highlights the need for targeted policies and investment strategies to improve access, especially for rural and female-headed households. This includes expanding off-grid solutions, improving affordability, and enhancing market development for solar and improved cookstoves.

Key Information

Access to Electricity

• MTF Tiers: Access to electricity is measured across seven attributes: Capacity, Availability, Reliability, Quality, Affordability, Formality, and Health and Safety. The final tier is determined by the lowest attribute achieved.
• Tier Distribution: Nationally, 17.5% of households are in Tier 1 or above. Urban households are more likely to be in higher tiers than rural ones.
• Grid vs. Off-Grid: Grid-connected households are concentrated in Tiers 3–5, while off-grid users are mainly in Tiers 0–2. Grid users face challenges in Availability, Reliability, and Affordability.
• Barriers to Access: High upfront costs are a major barrier to grid connection. Off-grid solar solutions are limited due to lack of market development and sustainability.
• Recommendations:
  • Develop mini-grids in underserved areas.
  • Expand solar product offerings and implement consumer awareness programs.
  • Introduce flexible payment plans and subsidies.
  • Address affordability and reliability issues for grid users.
  • Support market development for off-grid solutions.

Access to Modern Energy Cooking Solutions

• MTF Tiers: Cooking access is measured across six attributes: Cooking Exposure, Cookstove Efficiency, Convenience, Safety of the Primary Cookstove, Affordability, and Fuel Availability. The final tier is based on the lowest attribute.
• Cookstove Types: Three-stone stoves are the most common (86.8%), followed by traditional stoves (7.1%), LPG stoves (4.6%), and improved cookstoves (1.5%).
• Tier Distribution: Most households (21.2% Tier 0, 74.1% Tier 1) use biomass fuels. Only 20.2% of urban households are in Tiers 2–5, with 8.6% reaching Tier 5.
• Challenges: Cooking Exposure (use of three-stone stoves) is the main constraint for households in Tiers 0 and 1. There is a need to introduce improved cookstoves that meet the needs of firewood-dependent households.
• Recommendations:
  • Promote clean fuel stoves, especially in urban areas.
  • Analyze the potential for increasing LPG stove adoption.
  • Develop a comprehensive plan that covers both supply and demand for improved cookstoves.
  • Provide public support to distributors offering both solar and improved cookstoves.

Gender Analysis

• Female-Headed Households: Account for 7.8% of all households, with 10% in urban and 7.2% in rural areas. Most are widows and tend to be poorer than male-headed households.
• Energy Access: Female-headed households are slightly less likely to have access to electricity and modern cooking solutions. In urban areas, 38.2% of female-headed households have grid access compared to 46.1% of male-headed households.
• Cooking Time and Health: Women aged 15 and older spend more than 2 hours per day cooking, making them more vulnerable to indoor air pollution.
• Recommendations:
  • Target female-headed households in energy access programs.
  • Promote awareness and adoption of modern cooking solutions among women.
  • Ensure gender-inclusive policies in energy development.

Conclusion

The MTF survey provides a detailed assessment of energy access in Niger, highlighting the disparity between urban and rural areas, as well as between male- and female-headed households. The report emphasizes the need for policy reforms, investment in off-grid solutions, and gender-sensitive approaches to improve access to both electricity and modern cooking solutions. These efforts are critical for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 and supporting broader development goals in the country.