Evaluation of Program Decentralization of the Small-Scale Energy Systems Construction and Maintenance Management in Rwanda: A Case Study of the Rwanda Domestic Biogas Program

Abstract

Decentralization of the domestic biogas plants construction and maintenance has been ongoing in Rwanda since 2014. However, the performance of the decentralization endeavor has not been thoroughly evaluated. Such evaluation is necessary for the decentralization policy endorsement or refinement. In Rwanda, the government implements the domestic biogas program through REG (Rwanda Energy Group), which provides subsidies for biogas constructions. Those subsidies are channeled through the districts and get to private construction companies. From 2006 to 2013, the biogas was centralized and managed essentially from REG, Kigali office. However, since the beginning of 2014, the biogas program decentralization has been initiated by REG and a partner NGO, SNV (The Netherlands Development Organization). Prior to the decentralization, the rural people were still underserved and some of the installed biogas digesters constructed were non-operational. Therefore, this research study aimed at determining whether the biogas program decentralization from central level to Districts had contributed to more biogas constructions and better maintenance services thus increased access to energy by rural people. The study was carried out in Bugesera and Kirehe Districts, Eastern province of Rwanda, whereby 93 respondents participated in the study and were selected through random and purposive sampling. Data were collected from biogas households grouped into two categories: those who owned a biogas plant before decentralization and those who owned a biogas plant after decentralization. Additionally, other actors directly involved in the implementation of the program - biogas company owners, District and REG staff- were also interviewed. In this study, it is concluded that the domestic biogas program development in Rwanda has been improved significantly, by adopting the decentralization policy. A greater number of biogas plants, higher level of biogas user satisfaction and higher quality of the construction and maintenance services are evident benefits. From these conclusions, the study recommends further capacity building for District level actors and continued program decentralization to lower spheres of the public administration, at least to sector level. Additionally, there is the need for further strengthening of local construction companies, construction cooperatives and local masons to provide better services and reach out to more people, to achieve the government aspirations. This remains an unfulfilled dream.