Community micro-hydro in LDCs: adoption, management and poverty impact

This project has developed methodologies and action plans through consultation, by which community-based micro-hydro can be implemented in target African countries. This was achieved through the study of the successful adoption of micro-hydro in Nepal and Sri Lanka. The study showed that the success of micro-hydro in Nepal and Sri Lanka depended on using the technology for applications for which people had a strong interest. In Nepal, the demand for mechanical power for food processing led to rapid growth of the micro-hydro industry, while electricity generation proved more attractive in Sri Lanka. Similar factors to those in Nepal are allowing the Ethiopian micro-hydro programme to develop, and this project has enabled key Ethiopian stakeholders to learn from the Nepal experience. There appears to be potential demand for micro-hydro in Uganda, but further investigation is required to find suitable sites and applications for the technology. (author)