Enterprises need interventions beyond energy: policy recommendations for government from small energy surveys in rural South Afirca and Botswana

Abstract

Small enterprises are important in the growth of economies and they stimulate the economy through employment, skill transfer and by addressing market segments neglected by big businesses, for example provision of services like telecommunications in rural areas. The aim of the paper is to provide recommendations on how governments should help small enterprises through provision of modern energy and other services. While energy services may not be explicitly mentioned as a major problem, many of the services that societies require entail the provision of energy services. This paper is based on literature reviews of policy documents and field surveys carried out among small enterprises in electrified and unelectrified rural areas in South Africa and Botswana. The study found that most small enterprises have difficulty accessing and affording modern energy services and may not have access to the grid or the grid may not be reliable. Modern energy services facilitate the delivery of the above interventions. Policy integration is important given the cross-sectoral nature of development needs