About Me

Photo by  D. Barnes

Douglas Barnes has been involved in rural energy, household energy and international development issues for the last 30 years. I have worked on issues of energy, environment and equity in many different developing countries, and have continually been involved in the development and implementation of innovative household surveys. I also have specialized on institutional issues for the development of decentralized electricity projects, biomass energy, and the transition from traditional to modern fuels.

Among my major publications is my most recent book is on The Challenge of Rural Electrification: Strategies for Developing Countries. Several years ago I finished a major book on urban household energy called The Urban Energy Transition: Energy, Poverty and the Environment in the Developing World. This is a study based on household surveys in 12 countries that examines urban energy policies, environmental, and equity issues for developing countries. About 15 years ago I led the efforts to develop a strategy for rural energy for the World Bank which has had a significant influence on the World Bank’s energy program, and it was published as Rural Energy and Development: Improving Energy Supplies for Two Billion People.   For other publications, see the sidebar of this blog.

I have worked for 25 years at the World Bank and 4 years at Resources for the Future both of which are located in Washington DC. For the past 5 years I have been affiliated with India Human Development Survey (IHDS) at the University of Marlyand, College Park.  Originally I became interested in international development as a Peace Corps Volunteer and spent nearly two years in the state of Maharashtra, India. 

Education

Ph.D. University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, 1979, Sociology
M. A. St. John’s University (New York City), 1974, Sociology
A. B. Ohio University (Athens, Ohio), 1969, Sociology

Email: barnesdf@gmail.com