Guidelines on Indicators

The outcome of this GEF strategic objective - increased use of renewable energy in rural settings - can be best measured by the growth rate of the use of renewable energy to supply rural energy services. Looking at the five dimensions characteristic of GEF off-grid interventions, specific indicators might include the following:

(a) Policy

• Integration of renewable energy in national rural energy policies (in case of rural energy access programs); and

• Integration in renewable energy in relevant sectoral policies (including specific governance processes and financing for the interventions).

(b) Finance availability:

• Growth in investment (private and/or public) volume (%); and

• RETs dealers that offer at financing option to end users (%)

(c) Business skills and capacity (both RETs energy suppliers and energy end-users):

• Number of businesses;

• Growth of number of businesses (%), including predicted sustained number;

• Growth of revenue (turnover and profit) (%);

• Build-up of a supply chain;

• maintenance capacity for RE equipment in number of businesses; and

• Number of income generating activities emerged in combination with the turnover / profit of these activities / businesses (e.g. number of products sold, input materials, price of products, number of customers).

(d) Technology:

• Renewable energy produced/saved (MWh);

• Capacity installed (W);

• Growth in capacity installed (%);

• Cost trajectory of technology: cost of equipment ($/kW) or cost of energy ($/kWh); and

• Emissions avoided (Mt CO 2 /a).

(e) Awareness:

• Share of rural stakeholders (community leaders, investors, project developers, household system customers) that are able to evaluate costs and benefits of renewable energy systems;

• Number of social services affected (e.g. schools, health services, etc.); and

• Portion of end use demand (HH + Commerce + Industry) met by RE (%).

However, if the PURE project is integrated into other sector programmes then also economic and social indicators may be important to consider in order to measure outcomes and long term impacts . For a UNDP programme, this could include the following:

• Energy costs and the share of these costs in production cost

• Energy costs and the share of these costs in household income

• Number of people employed (disaggregate men and women)

• School enrolment r ates

• Time saving on food and water provision from improved energy services

• Indoor air pollution

• (Renewable) Energy supply and expenditure for clinics, schools and village community centres

• Reduced vulnerability (change in expenditures on cattle/housing/other local good, changes in food production)