This research evaluates the levels and the determinants of energy poverty in rural West Africa using countrywide primary data for Senegal and Togo. The study estimates and compares various indicators for measuring energy poverty and a newly proposed multidimensional measure. The results suggest that rural energy poverty levels vary from 31.2 to 98.5 percent in Senegal and 53.5 to 98.8 percent in Togo. Measures that are based on per capita energy consumption generate higher energy poverty rates in rural Senegal than Togo due to the relative scarcity of fire wood and the relatively larger household size in Senegal. Multidimensional and expenditure-based energy measures generate higher energy poverty in rural Togo than Senegal, reflecting the higher per capita income and greater access to modern energy sources in Senegal compared to Togo. Household income, fertility and the type of fuel used are the main drivers of household energy poverty in both countries. Furthermore, rural households tend to have greater energy consumption when the decisions about energy purchase are made jointly by male and female household members. Thus, public policies that improve rural households' income, foster women's participation in decision-making, and provide affordable energy would help reduce energy poverty in both countries.

本研究使用塞内加尔和多哥的全国原始数据评估了西非农村能源贫困的水平和决定因素。该研究估计并比较了衡量能源贫困的各种指标和新提出的多维衡量指标。结果表明，塞内加尔的农村能源贫困程度为 31.2% 至 98.5%，多哥为 53.5% 至 98.8%。由于塞内加尔木柴的相对稀缺和家庭规模相对较大，基于人均能源消耗的措施在塞内加尔农村产生的能源贫困率高于多哥。多方面和基于支出的能源措施在多哥农村产生的能源贫困率高于塞内加尔，反映出与多哥相比，塞内加尔的人均收入更高，更容易获得现代能源。家庭收入、生育率和使用的燃料类型是两国家庭能源贫困的主要驱动因素。此外，当能源购买决策由男性和女性家庭成员共同做出时，农村家庭的能源消耗量往往更大。因此，提高农村家庭收入、促进妇女参与决策和提供负担得起的能源的公共政策将有助于减少两国的能源贫困。