System modeling for affordable and sustainable development of small hydro projects in Rwanda

Most of the African countries have less than 10% of electrification and 90% of the electrified areas are confined to capital city, so that access to electricity is only confined to main towns. With the initiative of United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), an attempt was made to deviate from the accepted norms of project financing, but participatory development of rural villages by utilizing their own hydro resources for power generation. Access to electricity, affordability, appropriate standards in construction and installation and quality of power are key factors in such development projects. Three small hydro projects in Rwanda have been completed under UNIDO umbrella, giving electricity to around 750 households from each project.