International Development Partnerships and Diffusion of Renewable Energy Powered Lighting Technologies in Off-Grid Communities in Developing Countries

Worldwide, 1.4 billion people virtually live in darkness after sunset. New lighting technologies, such as light emitting diodes (LED), powered by renewable energy allow non-electrified communities to access for the first time in their lives clean, durable, affordable, and higher quality lighting service. The international NGOs play an important intermediary role in diffusion of these technologies to off-grid communities and commonly operate via development partnerships. With the goal of providing insights into the nature of these partnerships and factors that influence their effectiveness, the exploratory case study was conducted which examined and compared development partnerships promoting renewable energy powered lighting technologies in off-grid indigenous communities in Talamanca, Costa Rica. The study acknowledged the catalytic role of the international NGOs and emphasized the centrality of locally embedded organizations and their capacities in successful implementation of development interventions. A set of factors was identified that contribute to the effectiveness of the development partnership in renewable energy in off-grid communities.