Energy access and the ultra-poor: Do unconditional social cash transfers close the energy access gap in Malawi?

Aung, Ther; Bailis, Robert; Chilongo, Thabbie; Ghilardi, Adrián; Jumbe, Charles; Jagger, Pamela

doi:10.1016/j.esd.2020.12.003

Cited by 19 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Bridging the energy divide between the poor and the rich through modern energy services provision remains a top priority for most governments and development partners in the developing world. A recent study by Aung et al (2021) revealed that ultra-poor households experience great depths of energy poverty compared to wealthy households within the same vicinity. However, there is a dichotomy in terms of how energy poverty is defined within a global south context compared to that of the global north.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the state of energy poverty in Rwanda: An inter-indicator analysis

Khundi-Mkomba

Saha

Wali

2021

Heliyon

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This paper adopted an inter-indicator analytical approach to investigate the state of energy poverty in Rwanda. It used a nationally representative sample of 14458 households from Rwanda's Integrated Living Standard Survey conducted between October 2016 and October 2017. The first indicator entailed a multidimensional analysis of energy poverty using eleven pointers of energy deprivation. Each pointer was assigned a weight using principal component analysis to form a household energy poverty index. The paper also employed a ‘modified’ expenditure-based approach that emphasizes affordability and accessibility. This is the approach on which the second indicator of energy poverty was based. This constituted an examination of different levels of household income and energy expenditure patterns as well as the use of biomass for cooking. The results from the multidimensional analysis revealed that the most energy-poor households were concentrated in the southern (30.15%), western (27.69%) and northern (24.86%) provinces of Rwanda. In contrast, ‘the least energy-poor are mostly found in urban areas of the country. A cross-comparison with the second approach showed different magnitudes of energy poverty incidences. Nonetheless, similar trends were observed in terms of areas of concentration of energy poverty. Last, the results from multilevel binary logistic regressions showed that household size, income poverty, education level of the head of the family, rural location and Kigali residentship were determinants of energy poverty.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the state of energy poverty in Rwanda: An inter-indicator analysis

Khundi-Mkomba

Saha

Wali

2021

Heliyon

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“…Concerns relating to low levels of electrification and clean cooking access continue to dominate the research landscape in Malawi (Arndt et al 2014;Aung et al 2021;Barry et al 2011;Gamula et al 2013;Kaunda 2013;Onyeji et al 2012;Tchereni et al 2013). Energy poverty in Malawi has been defined as an 'endemic' widespread 'state of deprivation where households can barely meet the most the minimum energy requirements for basic needs' by Tchereni et al (2013), whose research focuses on the extent of energy access issues across households in both urban and rural Malawi.…”

Section: Energy Challenges In Malawimentioning

confidence: 99%

Achieving energy justice in Malawi: from key challenges to policy recommendations

2022

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Addressing energy provision and access in Sub-Saharan Africa is a key global challenge. Drawing on interviews with key stakeholders, this paper applies an energy justice framework in overviewing energy realities and policies in Malawi, where electricity access remains among the lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa. The use of woodfuel remains high for meeting cooking, heating, and lighting needs leading to indoor air pollution, with serious health consequences, and widespread deforestation. Responses to these dual challenges, a lack of electricity access and ongoing woodfuel use, must be rooted in notions of equity, fairness, and justice. Application of energy justice theorising provides insights into how policy stakeholders are responding to complex and interconnected issues of energy generation and access in low-income settings. Overall, a just response to these energy challenges is possible, but only if it is built on local inclusive governance with fairer and effective systems of investment.

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“…More recent work by Aung et al (2021) has highlighted the challenges of what is termed as the "ultra-poor", which are households in Malawi that are primarily rural and are beyond both national grid and off grid energy generation networks. Aung et al (2021) show, in contrast to previous research, substantial variation exists between better-off households and ultra-poor households, whereby few policies have helped the former. This leads us to a second challenge, which is to foster bottom-up community or village-based energy schemes.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The focus of this research is to show the extent of energy access problems among households throughout Malawi. More recent work by Aung et al (2021) has highlighted the challenges of what is termed as the "ultra-poor", which are households in Malawi that are primarily rural and are beyond both national grid and off grid energy generation networks. Aung et al (2021) show, in contrast to previous research, substantial variation exists between better-off households and ultra-poor households, whereby few policies have helped the former.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Inclusive energy decision-making is vital to achieving fair electricity access. Recognising that our interviews do not include excluded groups, as work from (Aung et al, 2021;Gamula et al, 2013;Kaunda, 2013) has, our ndings examine procedural injustices relating to investment. This reinforces other investment based assessments of procedural justice (de Graeff et al, 2018; Thorpe, 2018; Walker & Baxter, 2017).…”

Section: Procedural Injusticesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Achieving Energy Justice in Malawi: From key Challenges to Policy Recommendations

McCauley

Grant

Mwathunga

2021

Preprint

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Addressing energy provision and access in Sub-Saharan Africa is a key global challenge. This paper builds a deep understanding of how fair and just energy policies and realties are in this context. It qualitatively assesses the perceptions of stakeholders in Malawi, where electricity access remains amongst the lowest in the region. Insufficient and unreliable systems of grid energy generation and distribution limit access to electricity in both urban and rural settings. Using wood fuel remains high for meeting cooking, heating, and lighting needs. Responding to these dual challenges, of lacking electricity access and ongoing wood fuel use, must be rooted in notions of equity, fairness, and justice. This paper argues that energy justice provides key insights into how best to respond to complex and interconnected issues of energy generation and access in low-income settings. Drawing on interviews with key stakeholders in policy and Malawi on addressing these challenges, this paper also outlines recommendations for policy. Overall, a just response to these energy challenges is possible, but only if it is built on local inclusive governance with fairer and effective systems of investment.

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Energy access and the ultra-poor: Do unconditional social cash transfers close the energy access gap in Malawi?

Cited by 19 publications

References 21 publications

Examining the state of energy poverty in Rwanda: An inter-indicator analysis

Examining the state of energy poverty in Rwanda: An inter-indicator analysis

Achieving energy justice in Malawi: from key challenges to policy recommendations

Achieving Energy Justice in Malawi: From key Challenges to Policy Recommendations

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