The electrification of the world's rural poor is an important aim of the United Nations. Off-grid
technologies, such as electric mini-grids are seen as appropriate solutions. However, their
diffusion rate in developing countries is not sufficient to reach poverty reduction targets. In this
paper we analyze the case of remote electric mini-grids in Laos, a least-developed country
characterized bymany barriers to the diffusion ofmodern technology. Weapply the Technological
Innovation Systems (TIS) approach in order to derive policy recommendations on how to increase
the diffusion rate. As the TIS framework has hardly been applied to such challenging contexts, we
also aim to produce insights for the theoretical advancement of the TIS literature. Our analysis,
which draws from secondary and primary data collected through field work, points to two
systemic root causes for the low diffusion rate: institutional mismatches within and across
geographical levels as well as hampered flows of resources across these levels. Based on these
findingswe derive policy recommendations proposing to formulate a national technology-specific
electrification strategy. In terms of insights for the TIS community, we suggest to strengthen the
role of culture in empirical TIS analyses and to extend the definition of one specific TIS function.
The electrification of the world's rural poor is an important aim of the United Nations. Off-gridtechnologies, such as electric mini-grids are seen as appropriate solutions. However, theirdiffusion rate in developing countries is not sufficient to reach poverty reduction targets. In thispaper we analyze the case of remote electric mini-grids in Laos, a least-developed countrycharacterized bymany barriers to the diffusion ofmodern technology. Weapply the TechnologicalInnovation Systems (TIS) approach in order to derive policy recommendations on how to increasethe diffusion rate. As the TIS framework has hardly been applied to such challenging contexts, wealso aim to produce insights for the theoretical advancement of the TIS literature. Our analysis,which draws from secondary and primary data collected through field work, points to twosystemic root causes for the low diffusion rate: institutional mismatches within and acrossgeographical levels as well as hampered flows of resources across these levels. Based on thesefindingswe derive policy recommendations proposing to formulate a national technology-specificelectrification strategy. In terms of insights for the TIS community, we suggest to strengthen therole of culture in empirical TIS analyses and to extend the definition of one specific TIS function.
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