Community solar gardens are being explored as a sustainable solution to provide off-grid villages with electricity in Eastern Madagascar. A mixed-methods approach involving surveys, interviews, and cost-benefit analyses was employed to evaluate the impact of solar gardens on energy access and economic viability. Semi-structured interviews revealed that 75% of participants found the solar garden beneficial for their daily activities. Cost-benefit analysis showed a return on investment within three years in all surveyed villages, with an average cost per household at 100. Community solar gardens present a viable option for providing off-grid villages with energy access and financial sustainability, though further research is needed to refine implementation strategies. Further studies should explore long-term economic impacts and the best community engagement models to ensure widespread adoption of solar gardens in Madagascar's off-grid regions. The empirical specification follows Y=₀+^ X+, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.
Ravelonandrasana et al. (Wed,) studied this question.