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,
from a deterioration in the economy in the 1990s. A situation that continues in 2004.
Women's fuel preferences related not only to cost but also to a variety <strong>of</strong> other
factors such as:
� wear and tear on pots and pans;
� whether a servant was involved with the cooking;
� traditional ideas about the taste <strong>of</strong> food and the type and amount <strong>of</strong> food to be
cooked; and
� experience, knowledge and familiarity with a specific fuel.
2.2.4 <strong>Energy</strong> as an urban poverty transforming vector
This study accepts that energy has a significant role in improving the lives <strong>of</strong> the
urban poor and sets out to clarify the nature <strong>of</strong> the transforming process. In particular
it aims to test the assumptions underlying MDGs 2 and 3, specifically that:
� improved energy efficiency will lead to women and girls having more time for
more activities;
� some <strong>of</strong> the time saved will be used to achieve some (or more) education; and
� that improved education will contribute to women and girls improving the
livelihoods <strong>of</strong> their families and thus reducing their poverty.
In order to do this it addresses two hypotheses.
� Time saved by using modern energy will result in women and girls having greater
participation in educational activities, and
� access to modern energy will contribute to gender equality and women’s
empowerment.
To test the hypotheses the study set out to answer eight questions. <strong>The</strong>se are as
follows:
<strong>The</strong> current situation
� What is the level <strong>of</strong> access to and use <strong>of</strong> modern and traditional energy in urban
households?
� What physical energy assets do people have?
� What are the roles, responsibilities and rights (decision-making) within the
household?
� How much time is used in energy related reproductive activities?
� What strategies are used to save time when using energy?
� What is the nature <strong>of</strong> energy poverty in the case study wards?
Opportunities for change and their implications
� What changes in energy role, responsibilities and rights are needed to reduce
time spent on energy related activities?
� How will women and girls use the saved time?
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Development Planning Unit, UCL London
Dr. Sheilah Meikle and Patrice North