This study investigates how participation of various
stakeholders affects the project longevity of micro hydro
projects in Orissa, India and its effect on broader goals of
renewable energy for sustainable development. Using action
research and ethnographic methods, the study evaluates obstacles
and determines solutions to community-based micro hydro projects
that are equitably managed and productively used. Tasked to lead
the energy program at Gram Vikas (GV), an established rural
development NGO in Orissa, India, the researcher uses the dual
role of practitioner and investigator to facilitate key
stakeholders—village communities, NGO, funding agencies, and
technical consultants—to modify the top-down blueprint approach
of implementation in order to instill a bottom up learning
process approach. The latter embraces failures in order to
nurture field level innovation and facilitate management to
incorporate end-users and field staff perspectives into their
management philosophies. The study examines four proje