Investment in Tanzania’s energy sector is growing, but how much attention is being given to decentralised energy solutions for people who still lack energy for their basic needs: to light their homes and power their farms and businesses? This study maps the available data on finance for decentralised energy access...
This paper examines community participation in housing projects for low-income communities in Thailand and how they have sought to ‘leave no one behind’. Baan Mankong, the government slum upgrading programme, is unique in how it has institutionalised participation. Housing projects funded by international funders, community savings or small government subsidies...
Karnataka has a population of over 60 million which is growing at over 2% per annum. It is the eighth largest and fifth most urbanised state in India, with 37% population living in cities. It contributes over 5% to India’s GDP and has been growing at over 7% in the...
This report covers case studies with three companies: Royal Dutch Shell, Rio Tinto, and Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), capturing their experiences and lessons learn preparing for and operating under policies that price carbon emissions. It is relevant for private companies and countries interested in seeing how companies are putting...
Land degradation is a severe economic and environmental challenge for Uzbekistan. It has a negative impact on agricultural production, and on rural incomes and livelihoods. It thus poses one of the major problems for sustainable development in Uzbekistan, though numerous efforts to address it have been made. Uzbekistan's government is, for example, planning to allocate more than 1 billion...
In this study the Total Economic Value (TEV) framework was applied. The TEV framework accounts for the total losses of all ecosystem services due to land degradation, both provisional (ex, declines in crop yields due to land degradation) and non-provisional (ex, lower carbon sequestration in the soils due to land degradation). Central...
Niger’s natural resource management policies and institutions in colonial and post-independence times have discouraged landowners to plant or protect trees. The consequent land clearing led to severe scarcity of tree products. Firewood collection – mainly done by women – became a full-time task, especially after the prolonged drought period. Niger...
Sub-Saharan Africa faces the worst land degradation in the world. This jeopardizes its efforts to reduce poverty as most rural livelihoods depend heavily on natural resources. Although a number of policies and strategies have been designed to reduce poverty and achieve food security, more has to be done. This study...
Access to modern energy is vital for sustainable development. In rural areas, decentralized energy solutions may play a significant role in reducing poverty, supporting community institutions and facilitating the generation of basic services such as communication, water access, education and health services. However, the majority of dwellers in off-grid communities...
Bandung Metropolitan Area (BMA) is home to 8.6 million people and is Indonesia’s second-largest urban agglomeration. Rapid growth has created a number of challenges for the city, including traffic congestion, air pollution, municipal solid waste and water access and management. The BMA also faces several acute disaster risks primarily related...