Renewable energy (RE) systems represent the most environmentally friendly and cost-effective means of providing electricity to those living in rural communities or regions in developing countries, however, this has been relatively slow and in many countries the proportion of the rural population supplied with electricity remains low and the proportion supplied with electricity from renewable energy systems is even lower. To understand the causes of this slow progress, a literatures review on renewable rural electrification programs was undertaken. The review suggested a need for better coordination at the national level between those institutions involved in the development and implementation of these programs. This paper compiles and analyse the issues associated with rural electrification in developing countries in Asia and the Pacific. Two case studies of programs are presented, one in Bangladesh and the other in Fiji. Based on the literature review and these two case studies, comments are provided on the policies and strategies required for renewable energy based rural electrification programs.