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

<strong>The</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> energy use on poor urban livelihoods in Arusha, Tanzania,
other energy interventions, policy makers have generally failed to involve the poor
(men and women) in the design and implementation <strong>of</strong> energy interventions directed
at them. (Katyega:2003 a )
Within the household, women's inferior position means that, despite their major role
in the use <strong>of</strong> energy, they are unable (or, in some cases, unwilling) to affect the
energy decision making process. (Reddy:00; Clancy et al:2003) Within such an
environment, if there are to be interventions to improve women's access to energy
services, there will be a need to address traditional gender relationships and actively
involve both men and women. (Annecke:99; Beall and Kanji:99; Clancy et al:2003)
Real changes in relations between men and women require real changes in attitudes
by both men and women. In many respects, these are the hardest things <strong>of</strong> all to
change. It is therefore insufficient to consider technological solutions and /or more
efficient energy alone, as evidence suggests that successful change needs to take
account <strong>of</strong> social as well as technological processes. (Annecke:99; North et al:02;
Clancy et al:2003)
Two recommendations made by Mbewe (00) for gender sensitive energy policy and
planning - a participatory approach and provision <strong>of</strong> information and training to
empower women in controlling and managing energy resources - are taken up by
this study.
2.2.2 <strong>The</strong> rural context
<strong>The</strong> connection between fuel choice and its use, and major issues such as gender
and poverty reduction have been extensively explored within a rural context. <strong>The</strong>
relevant literature:
� examines the impact <strong>of</strong> energy on livelihoods in rural communities, where there
is a heavy reliance on traditional fuels (crop-residues, dung, fuel wood and
charcoal); and
� shows the negative affects on rural household livelihoods in terms <strong>of</strong>:
- the opportunity costs <strong>of</strong> the time taken in the collection and use <strong>of</strong>
these fuels;
- the low calorific value <strong>of</strong> the energy produced;
- the restricted range <strong>of</strong> end-uses on these types <strong>of</strong> fuel;
- ill health caused by smoke and the carrying <strong>of</strong> heavy loads <strong>of</strong> wood and
poor lighting; and
- the time involved in the energy process that reduces the time for
productive work. (Barnett:00;Celcelski:00; Clancy et al:undated).
By comparison there is a lack <strong>of</strong> micro level studies on energy use and and its impact
on the livelihoods <strong>of</strong> the urban poor.
2.2.3 <strong>The</strong> urban perspective
At a macro-level, Hosier demonstrates, in his study <strong>of</strong> three Tanzanian cities, 11 the
dramatic intensification <strong>of</strong> energy use caused by urbanisation and the comparative
economic cost <strong>of</strong> supplying rural and urban residents with energy. Rural residents,
who use less commercial energy and have easier access to cheaper but less efficient
firewood, are supplied at a third <strong>of</strong> the financial cost <strong>of</strong> supplying urban residents. He
further shows that each urban area has a unique energy-use fingerprint and
consequentially energy-use in urban areas is neither uniform or monolithic within a
11 Dar-es-Salaam, Mbeya and Shinyanga
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Development Planning Unit, UCL London
Dr. Sheilah Meikle and Patrice North