Universität zu Köln

Whande, Tanyaradzwa Edith (2018). Energy Sources, Access and Women's Livelihood Strategies. A Case Study of Micro-Hydroelectricity Access in Chipendeke Village, Zimbabwe. Masters thesis, Universität zu Köln.

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Abstract

The relationship between women and energy is more apparent in energy poor communities that use biomass fuel to meet their household energy needs. Women in energy poor communities often have the responsibility of suppling and using energy in their homes due to socially assigned roles such as cooking. A significant number of these women reside in rural areas and deal with the daily constraints of poverty. Hence, access to modern energy such as electricity is an asset that enables women to expand their livelihoods and social status. Micro-hydroelectricity generation is one of the innovative and sustainable ways of using natural resources to provide electricity access to remote and inaccessible communities. This study explores how access to electricity through a micro-hydroelectricity scheme has influenced the socio-economic wellbeing of women in Chipendeke village. Different methods of data collection were used during fieldwork. These include participant observation, interviewing, focus group discussions, free listing and pile sorting. The results show that, electricity access enables women to engage in or improve different livelihood strategies such as chicken rearing projects and refrigerating produce for sale. The value of these activities is evident in their ability to enable the financial independence of women and widen the net of sustenance for households within a rural agricultural based economy. Electricity also plays a major role in improving maternal health services at local clinics and women’s use of communication technologies such as cell phones. In addition, the lighting provided by electricity extends the domestic work hours of women.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters thesis)
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Whande, Tanyaradzwa Edith UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
Corporate Creators:	Cologne African Studies Centre
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-84954
Series Name at the University of Cologne:	Culture and Environment in Africa Series
Volume:	11
Date:	2018
ISSN:	2194-1556
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Divisions:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Fächergruppe 4: Außereuropäische Sprachen, Kulturen und Gesellschaften > Institut für Ethnologie
Subjects:	Customs, etiquette, folklore
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language MA thesis, Energy Access, Women, Micro-Hydroelectricity, Zimbabwe English Masterarbeit, Zugang zu Energie, Frauen, Mikro-Hydroelektrizität, Simbabwe German
Date of oral exam:	2018
Referee:	Name Academic Title Bollig, Michael Prof. Dr.
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/8495