International Development Partnerships and Diffusion of Renewable Energy Technologies in Developing Countries: Exploratory Study in Costa Rica

Abstract

Worldwide, 1.4 billion people virtually live in darkness after sunset. New lighting technologies, such as light emitting diodes, 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 subsistence marketplaces and operate via development partnerships. My PhD research explores the nature of these partnerships and their effectiveness in achieving the development outcomes. This paper presents the exploratory case study in Talamanca, Costa Rica completed as part of the PhD research. The paper presents the background, conceptual framework and methodology for my PhD and then focuses on the case study which contrasted and examined two development partnerships driven by international NGOs. The study acknowledged the catalytic role of the international NGOs and emphasized the centrality of local organizations and their capacities in successful implementation of development interventions. It indicated the criteria for effective partnership in this area and proposed elements of a conceptual framework for the analysis of the development partnership in renewable energy lighting in subsistence marketplaces.

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