article published Irene F. Ngoti author <jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec> <jats:title>Background</jats:title> <jats:p>The majority of mini-grids in Tanzania are managed by private entities, faith-based institutions, and the government. In contrast, a limited number of mini-grids under community management strive to survive. Although the concept of “sense of ownership” is considered crucial for mini-grid sustainability in developing countries, there is limited theoretical exploration of the factors that drive this concept and its effects on community mini-grid management. This paper assesses the relationship between the sense of ownership among electricity users and the effective management of two solar community-based mini-grids with different sustainability experience.</jats:p> </jats:sec><jats:sec> <jats:title>Results</jats:title> <jats:p>A sense of ownership plays a role in establishing the decision-making process of mini-grids among village energy committee members toward sustainable or unsustainable management. The mechanisms behind the sense of ownership among community members toward managing mini-grids are largely expedited by the strong leadership of village energy committee members, community participation in decision-making and resource mobilisation, especially in the preparation, design and implementation phases of mini-grids.</jats:p> </jats:sec><jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title> <jats:p>A sense of ownership is found to influence the effective management of community mini-grids in Tanzania. When designing mini-grid project policies and programs that target respective communities as prospective owners, energy practitioners and policy-makers should consider creating an environment that nurtures a sense of ownership.</jats:p> </jats:sec> Springer Science and Business Media LLC2024 eng 2192-056710.1186/s13705-024-00496-7 141 Ngoti, Irene F. “The Role of Sense of Ownership in Rural Community Mini-Grid Management: Qualitative Case Study from Tanzania.” <i>Energy, Sustainability and Society</i> 14, no. 1 (2024). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-024-00496-7">https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-024-00496-7</a>. I. F. Ngoti, “The role of sense of ownership in rural community mini-grid management: qualitative case study from Tanzania,” <i>Energy, Sustainability and Society</i>, vol. 14, no. 1, Art. no. 63, 2024, doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-024-00496-7">10.1186/s13705-024-00496-7</a>. Ngoti IF. The role of sense of ownership in rural community mini-grid management: qualitative case study from Tanzania. <i>Energy, Sustainability and Society</i>. 2024;14(1). doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-024-00496-7">10.1186/s13705-024-00496-7</a> Ngoti, I. F. (2024). The role of sense of ownership in rural community mini-grid management: qualitative case study from Tanzania. <i>Energy, Sustainability and Society</i>, <i>14</i>(1), Article 63. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-024-00496-7">https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-024-00496-7</a> @article{Ngoti_2024, title={The role of sense of ownership in rural community mini-grid management: qualitative case study from Tanzania}, volume={14}, DOI={<a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-024-00496-7">10.1186/s13705-024-00496-7</a>}, number={163}, journal={Energy, Sustainability and Society}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Ngoti, Irene F.}, year={2024} } I.F. Ngoti, Energy, Sustainability and Society 14 (2024). Ngoti, Irene F. “The Role of Sense of Ownership in Rural Community Mini-Grid Management: Qualitative Case Study from Tanzania.” <i>Energy, Sustainability and Society</i>, vol. 14, no. 1, 63, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2024, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-024-00496-7">10.1186/s13705-024-00496-7</a>. 585422025-02-10T06:00:56Z2025-02-10T06:02:37Z