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

APPENDIX D8
PRESS CONFERENCE
A Study <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> on Poor Urban Livelihoods in Arusha, Tanzania
PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday 17 February 2004
<strong>The</strong> press conference began with the following statement by Sheilah Meikle
INTRODUCTION
• Good morning ladies and gentlemen
• My name is Dr Sheilah Meikle from London University (www.ucl.ac.uk/dpu)
• <strong>The</strong>se are my colleagues from CDTI Tengeru and this is Mr Selenge - proncipal <strong>of</strong> CDTI and
Patrice North, my colleague from London
• We are also working with a local NGO, WODSTA (Women's Development for Science and
Technology)
<strong>The</strong> nature <strong>of</strong> the study
• Currently we are working together on a poverty and energy research study and that is why I am
meeting you this morning.
• <strong>The</strong> study is funded by the UK's Department for International Development (DFID)
• <strong>The</strong> field work has been undertaken in two wards in Arusha - Daraja Mbeli and Kaloleni
<strong>The</strong> workshops
• We are holding two workshops this week in the communities
• <strong>The</strong> purposes <strong>of</strong> the workshops are:
- to discuss the preliminary findings from the research; and
- discuss and explore local energy interventions which could address some <strong>of</strong> the
energy related problems that have been identified
HIGHLIGHTS OF FINDINGS
Some <strong>of</strong> the findings we have identified are already in the public domain
• Fuels
- <strong>The</strong>se communites have a high dependence on Charcoal and firewood. This is
problematic because <strong>of</strong> supply issues
- Communities preference for electricity is also problematic because:
- it is unaffordable by poorer memebrs <strong>of</strong> the community (witness disconnections
and lack <strong>of</strong> connections)
- where the better-<strong>of</strong>f can afford some electricity they still have preference for
using other fuels for cooking
- Kerosene is popular but expensive and therefore less available to poorer
members <strong>of</strong> the community
- Very limited use <strong>of</strong> other types <strong>of</strong> fuel e.g. lpg, solar or biogas
<strong>Energy</strong> decisions
• <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> energy impacts more on time and life <strong>of</strong> woemen and girls compared with men, e.g.
cvollecting and using fuel
• However most <strong>of</strong> the decisions around energy are made by men, e.g. in relation to the type <strong>of</strong>
energy used and the stoves and appliances purchased.
• This is unfortunate because men tend to be conservative about energy descisions especially in
poor households.
Development Planning Unit, UCL London
Dr. Sheilah Meikle and Patrice North