Rural Electrification Projects and Socio - Economic development in Rwanda (A case study of electricity access roll out program (EARP) in EWSA Kinyinya, Gasabo District.)

Abstract

The purpose of the research was to assess the rural electrification projects and socio - economic development in Rwanda and was carried out in Electricity Access Roll Out Program with the following objectives; to identify the socio - economic benefits of rural electrification, to examine the various attributes of socio - economic development in Rwanda and to assess the strategies that can be used by rural electrification projects to promote socio - economic development. The researcher reviewed literature related to the socio - economic benefits of rural electrification. The researcher designed a descriptive and analytical research design based on qualitative and quantitative data while the population was 254 including employees of EARP project and beneficiaries of the project, the sample size was 38. The researcher collected primary data using questionnaires and interviews while documentary review was used for secondary data. Collected data was presented using tables and figures while frequencies and percentages were used to analyze and interpret the collected data. The researcher found out that rural electrification is one of the ways through which the government is promoting socio - economic development in Rwanda, respondents are happy with rural electrification and still feel it should be extended to all villages as a suitable tool for socio - economic development. The researcher concluded that the benefits of rural electrification to the development of rural areas are increase in electricity access, leads to development of rural areas, improving standards of living of rural people and facilitating development of electricity driven activities and that rural people have embraced rural electrification program because it contributes to socio - economic development in Rwanda. The researcher recommended that the government of Rwanda should continue electrifying rural areas so that standards of living in rural areas can be improved. This will further help to promote socio - economic development.