The Impact of Energy Use on Poor Urban Livelihoods in ... - DfID

A Study <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> on Poor Urban Livelihoods in Arusha, Tanzania
Restaurants and guest houses are all significant users <strong>of</strong> woodfuel. In addition
Arusha’s textile industry and brewery have also reverted to using woodfuel because
<strong>of</strong> high electricity costs. Because <strong>of</strong> the size <strong>of</strong> their demand, this further reduces the
availability and hence raises the cost <strong>of</strong> this energy source for domestic consumers 62 .
Data on energy use in Arusha taken from the HBS shows that most households in
Arusha currently use firewood and charcoal in preference to electricity and gas. Very
few use electricity for cooking. A detailed breakdown <strong>of</strong> energy used for cooking and
lighting is given in table 3.6? Figure 3.9?.
Figure C.11: Comparison between Tanzania urban areas and Arusha
Proportional use by type <strong>of</strong> energy in domestic energy sector
2000/01
Cooking Lighting
Tanzania
urban areas a
Arusha Tanzania
urban areas a
Arusha
Firewood 33.8 75
Charcoal 53.3 10
Kerosene 8.9 11 28.6 42
ELectricty 69.6 57
a –
Excluding Dar es Salaam
Source HBS 2000/1
C.7 Gender
C.7.1 <strong>The</strong> cultural paradigm
<strong>The</strong> cultural paradigm still considers women, despite evidence <strong>of</strong> changing male and
female economic roles and responsibilities (discussed below), as subservient to men.
Men are still expected to be the bread winner and women to be married and perform
all the reproductive work including care for children, the old, sick and disabled. <strong>The</strong>se
responsibilities are rarely supported by improved technology.
<strong>The</strong> customs <strong>of</strong> most ethnic groups oppose women having either inheritance or
ownership rights over land or other immovable property. This lack <strong>of</strong> ownership <strong>of</strong>
collateral has implications for their ability to secure credit. (Omari and Koda)
Boys are commonly preferred over girls. This social preference for boys by family,
community and the legal system gives them more options to succeed than girls. Girls
are nurtured to become women who are non-argumentative, non assertive and quick
to accept defeat and subordination. In school, they (girls) are <strong>of</strong>ten assigned
domestic activities, such as fetching water for teachers and cooking for the bachelors,
limiting their time for study. Boys are given more time after school for sports, while
girls are usually assigned household chores. (Mzinga:)
C.7.2 Household structure
<strong>The</strong> household 63 structure varies considerably between urban and rural areas. <strong>The</strong>
nuclear economic family comprising a married couple with children is more common
in urban areas than the large extended families that predominant in rural areas.
Although as shown in this study such extended families are still relatively common in
some poor urban areas. <strong>The</strong>re is a growing tendency for married man to have
concubines and even children outside marriage. Bitter and <strong>of</strong>ten life long hatred
62 Key Informant Interview, Regional Forestry Officer
63 Household both a socio-economic and political unit comprising members <strong>of</strong> different sex,
ages, educational and political status.
Development Planning Unit, UCL London
Dr. Sheilah Meikle and Patrice North