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People
> Shaping Sustainable Markets research group

Sarah Best

Senior researcher, Shaping Sustainable Markets

Sarah Best's current work focuses on energy access and renewable energy, productive uses of energy, and on citizen engagement in policy and debates on energy and mining. She has expertise on pro-poor and inclusive business models, civil society advocacy for change, and a range of energy and extractives issues. Her current research is focused on East Africa.
Full biography
Expertise

Civil society advocacy for policy and practice change; social/labour impacts of business; pro-poor business models; energy access, renewable energy and climate change; extractives sector.

Before IIED

Policy adviser in Oxfam advocacy unit (UK, Brussels, Bolivia).

Prior to that, various research/policy roles or projects with ILO, Shell, Confederation of British Industry and Sustainable Development Advisers (Argentina). 

Education: MPhil in Development Studies, IDS, University of Sussex; BA in Modern History, Oxford University.

Current work

Energy access and renewable energy; productive uses of energy; citizen engagement in energy transitions; citizens perceptions surveys on large-scale mining; meaningful consultation; artisanal and small-scale mining knowledge programme.  

Sarah Best's picture
Telephone: 
+44 (0) 20 3463 7399
Email: 
sarah.best@iied.org
Languages: English, Spanish

Sarah Best's projects

A girl studies under the light of a rechargeable solar lamp

Improving people’s access to sustainable energy

Project, Oct 2012
Group of standing and seated people pose for a photo

CHOICES: community energy in South Africa

Project, Oct 2010

Managing risks and opportunities in oil and gas industry contracting chains

Project, Oct 2010

Race to the Top

Project, Jun 2008

Sarah Best's blog posts

A woman wearing a chef's uniform and hat poses in front of a breadmaking machine

Getting personal: tailoring support to power up Tanzania’s rural businesses

Blog, Dec 2020
 Esther Msafiri demonstrates using electricity for oil pressing in Njombe region, Tanzania (Photo: Sarah Best/IIED)

Powering local development in Tanzania

Blog, Feb 2017
A demonstration of solar PV products by the Energy and Environment Partnership in Tanzania's southern Iringa Region gathers an audience of all ages (Photo: EEP Southern and Eastern Africa, Creative Commons via Flickr)

Bringing solar out of the shadows

Blog, Feb 2017
A woman carries a Nile perch landed at Got Kachola, Kenya, where the NGO Renewable World is establishing community-run energy hubs for fish chilling and other local energy needs (Photo: Sarah Best/IIED)

Four challenges to powering local economies

Blog, Sep 2016
A community-based green energy project: Sinteyo and the women's group with solar panels at the greenhouse in Isiolo, Kenya (Photo: Annie Bungeroth/CAFOD)

Sharing the load: who pays for energy access?

Blog, May 2015
A man stands behind an electricity generator

Energy literacy for all? Cracking the very hard 'soft side' of energy development

Blog, Sep 2014

Links to other sites

Energy Change Lab strategy (PDF)

Building a sustainable and people-centered energy system, IIED/HIVOS (2017)

 
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IIED's mission is to build a fairer, more sustainable world, using evidence, action and influence in partnership with others. We link local priorities to global challenges, and our 2019-2024 strategy details how we will Make Change Happen

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International Institute for Environment and Development, 235 High Holborn, Holborn, London WC1V 7LE, UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 3463 7399

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