ENERGY ACCESS, GOVERNANCE, AND TRANSITION PATHWAYS: INSIGHTS FROM SHAPE COMMUNITY IN NIGERIA

Achieving universal access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity remains a major challenge in many developing countries, where rural electrification is constrained by weak institutions, inadequate infrastructure, and limited investment. Although decentralised renewable energy technologies are increasingly promoted to address energy poverty, their long-term sustainability depends as much on governance as on technological performance. This study aims to examine how governance arrangements influence the implementation, sustainability, and scalability of community renewable energy systems using the Shape community renewable energy project in Nigeria as a case study. A qualitative case study design was adopted, drawing on semi-structured interviews, documentary analysis, and field observations, interpreted through the complementary analytical lenses of the Multi-Level Perspective, Transition Management, and Strategic Niche Management. The findings show that the project significantly improved electricity access and generated important socio-economic and environmental benefits. However, its transformative potential was constrained by fragmented governance, weak institutional coordination, limited community participation, financial sustainability challenges, and inadequate organisational learning. The study argues that governance is the principal mechanism linking technological innovation to wider socio-technical transformation in developing-country contexts. It extends sustainability transition theory by proposing a governance-oriented framework that identifies institutional capacity, governance coordination, community agency, financial sustainability, and knowledge diffusion as interdependent capabilities shaping transition pathways. The findings provide practical insights for policymakers, rural electrification agencies, development partners, renewable energy developers, and local communities seeking to strengthen the governance and long-term sustainability of community renewable energy programmes in developing countries.