A community-based approach to implementing energy access initiatives in low-resource contexts

This article conceptually examines how energy access in low-resource and poverty settings is shaped by interconnected economic, infrastructural, social, and governance determinants, and how decentralised renewable options can respond when implemented through a community-based approach. It reviews conceptual ambiguities of “energy community” and argues that, in marginalised and low-resource contexts, goals are often defined less by market participation than by poverty reduction, productive uses of energy, and social development. Drawing on three community-based initiatives in Mayotte – a “Clean Mobility”, a “Social Housing” and a “Collective Interest” energy community – as practice-based starting points, the paper reflects on participation and empowerment, inclusion and recognition justice, and contextualisation through a socio-ecological systems lens. The conceptual reflection highlights that effective initiatives align technology with everyday practices, build bridging and bonding social capital, and adapt governance, tariffs, and partnerships to local institutions and constraints. The article concludes by outlining cornerstones for designing resilient, equitable grassroots energy communities under conditions of poverty, informality, and climate risk over time.