Overcoming obstacles against effective solar lighting interventions in South Asia

Basing on our devised World Bank’s ‘Design Principles’ for effective renewable energy projects in developing countries and an in‐depth analysis of our two solar lighting projects in Bangladesh and India, this paper explores three key obstacles that constrain poor people from obtaining solar lighting: financial exclusion, weak governance, and passive NGO and customer participation. The low take‐up rate has a social and psychological impact. This paper recommends creating easy access to credit, establishing a robust complaint system, and developing strategic partnership to overcome the obstacles.