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
savings. (Omari and Koda: 1991) Although some women in towns use formal savings
and credit societies and postal savings accounts the major saving mode for most
women is ‘upatu’ (kibati). Women have less access to credit than men and less
money to save but could benefit from expanded micro-finance and training in its use’
(THDR, 1999)
C.7.6 Power relations
Women's increasing economic responsibilities and power has failed to relieve them
<strong>of</strong> their productive roles. With the result that they have an increased workload. As
explained by Bok men's tendency to ignore household responsibilities has not been
sufficiently challenged.
Instead the increasing involvement <strong>of</strong> women in both waged employment and the
informal sector has affected power relations within and between households. <strong>The</strong>
changed roles clash with the established patriarchal system which defines women
as dependent rather than independent social beings.
While some men recognise the benefits they have gained from their women's
improved economic strength, others do not. <strong>The</strong> latter group experience women's
relatively new found economic power as a challenge to their self-esteem. <strong>The</strong>ir
reactions range from passivity to withdrawal <strong>of</strong> the cash support they used to give to
their women. More serious is the sexual harassment (domestic violence) directed to
some women (wives) who possess more economic power than their husbands.
<strong>The</strong> division <strong>of</strong> labour, development <strong>of</strong> the labour force (male and female) and
changes in the decision making process at the household level are key to the
alleviation <strong>of</strong> poverty. For this reason the authors support Biermann's (1997) plea for
more research into understanding household allocation <strong>of</strong> resources, in order to
enable policy makers to devise social policies which will affect changes at household
level for the better (Biermann:97).
This study contributes to this understanding by clarifying the relationships around the
energy decision making process in urban households, and by raising awareness, <strong>of</strong>
poor households and other stakeholders, <strong>of</strong> the importance <strong>of</strong> the energy process
and the access to energy services for improving the sustainability <strong>of</strong> livelihoods.
Development Planning Unit, UCL London
Dr. Sheilah Meikle and Patrice North