The Smart Villages in South America Workshop aimed to facilitate the analysis and exchange between the public and private sectors and civil society, from first-hand experiences in the field of energy in rural off-grid communities. Topics for discussion include rural electrification; energy generation and distribution; the inclusion of renewable energy sources (RES) in the energy matrix; productive use of energy in rural communities; clean cooking technologies; efficient heating; and rural energy entrepreneurship. The discussions are aimed at outlining new prospects for reducing rural poverty in South American countries through the access and use of sustainable energy sources.