How Are Innovative Financing Approaches Contributing to Wider Electricity Access in Kenya?

Digital technological innovation, combined with new financing approaches, can make a significant contribution in the field of access to energy. This is the case in Kenya, where payas- you-go solutions, combined with solar home systems and an extensive mobile network, have enabled thousands of Kenyans to access clean and affordable off-grid electricity. This policy paper identifies the drivers of the development of pay-as-you-go solutions in off-grid systems in Kenya, assesses their successes and shortcomings based on two case studies, and develops a set of recommendations to better capitalize on the various opportunities and avoid the potential risks related to the emergence of off-grid pay-as-you-go solutions in developing countries.