The Gender-Energy Nexus in Tanzania: Assessing Rural Electrification in the Context of Gender Mainstreaming among Women
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Date
2015
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Organisation for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA)
Abstract
This chapter presents empirical evidence from the study conducted in two rural districts of Tanzania. The aim was to assess government rural energy strategy undertaken by Rural Energy Agency (REA) to electrify rural Tanzania in the context of gender mainstreaming in energy projects as well as its viability in resolving gender energy challenges that rural women face. A total of 22 semi-structured interviews were conducted with rural women and TANESCO officials in Kilolo and Shinyanga rural districts over a period of two weeks. Our findings indicate that although government takes gender issues seriously, more remains to be done as most of our informants had little knowledge on what rural electrification is; an indication that gender may just have been mainstreamed in energy policy, plans and strategies on paper by a mention of the word gender and gender mainstreaming. Again, the study found out that patriarchal practices that marginalize rural women are still entrenched in rural Tanzania to the extent that rural electrification may only end lighting rural Tanzania instead of altering complex and multiple energy challenges women face. High costs of energy and limited energy choices were also mentioned as main issues that challenge rural electrification. From the findings, it is recommended that the government ought to go down to rural women to learn of their expectations and challenges; build awareness to rural women over the use of different energy sources; diversify energy sources; and implement energy policies, plans and strategies effectively to resolve gender energy challenges.
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Kigodi, H.M.; Poncian, J. 2015. The Gender-Energy Nexus in Tanzania: Assessing Rural Electrification in the Context of Gender Mainstreaming among Women. In P.B. Mihyo & T.E. Mukuna (Eds.), The Gender-Energy Nexus in Eastern and Southern Africa. Addis Ababa: Organisation for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA), pp. 59-84