Integrating clean energy use in national poverty reduction strategies: Opportunities and challenges in Rwanda's Girinka programme

The disappearance of Rwanda' forests and attendant change in climatic conditions prompted the government to explore clean energy alternatives such as biogas. Unlike at any other time in Rwanda's history, more and more Rwandans in rural areas are becoming owners of cattle because of Government of Rwanda's agricultural direct assistance and poverty reduction programme known as Girinka. This paper focuses on the various strategies employed by the government of Rwanda in achieving increased biogas use among the rural poor Girinka beneficiaries who use cow dung for their domestic biogas plants. Conditions necessary for successful implementation of clean energy pro-poor reforms in rural communities are explored.