scholarly journals An Assessment of the Energy Poverty and Gender Nexus towards Clean Energy Adoption in Rural South Africa

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 3708
Author(s):  
Omowunmi Mary Longe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Women ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Income Poverty ◽  
Rural South ◽  
Energy Poverty ◽  
Time Poverty ◽  
Women And Girls ◽  
And Gender

South Africa has about 2.5 million households without electricity access, most of which are located in rural areas and urban informal settlements. The nexus of energy poverty and gender is at play in the affected communities, as women and girls are culturally stereotyped with the task of collecting unclean fuels (e.g., firewood) and using these for their households’ energy demands. Therefore, this study prioritized rural women and girls as respondents in the provinces most affected by gendered energy poverty (GEP) in the country. The study was carried out in selected rural unelectrified areas of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces using structured interviews. The study revealed that GEP in the rural areas has exposed women and girls living there to security concerns, health hazards, premature death, domestic fire accidents, time poverty, income poverty, illiteracy, drudgery in households and farm tasks, etc., at different levels of severity. It also showed the effects of perceptions, age, income, and culture on the choice of energy use among the respondents. Mitigation strategies against GEP in rural South African communities through clean energy adoption are also proposed in this paper.

Addressing Energy Poverty Through Ecological Governance of Solar Home Systems in South Africa

2022 ◽  
pp. 253-276
Author(s):  
Edzisani Ellen Netshiozwi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Poverty Eradication ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Energy Poverty ◽  
Environmental Preservation ◽  
Governance Systems ◽  
The Future ◽  
Ecological Governance ◽  
Home Systems

South Africa has long recognised the need to eliminate energy poverty, and significant progress has been made since 1996. With the recent global outcry about the use of sustainable and clean energy sources for human and ecological development, it has become essential for countries to upscale the use of non-grid electrification in order to effectively and sustainably eradicate energy poverty. South Africa implements different non-grid electrification programmes which focuses on ensuring universal access to clean energy by all, with one of these initiatives being the Solar Home Systems Programme. This study aims to contribute to academic discussion and knowledge about the role that solar home systems can play in bringing change on the current status of the energy poverty eradication initiatives which negatively affect the environment and the people. The study used a qualitative approach in assessing how the Solar Home Systems Programme contributes to energy poverty eradication and environmental preservation if managed in line with ecological governance principles. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a total of 40 households in Limpopo and officials from government departments in the province as well as a service provider responsible for the roll-out and maintenance of solar home systems in Limpopo. Framed within the ecological economics theory which advocates for ecological and environmental solutions that take into consideration the future generation, the study established that the solar home systems can eradicate energy poverty and contribute to the protection of the environment if managed in line with ecological governance principles. The study further revealed that the Solar Home Systems Programme in South Africa failed due to lack of proper governance systems that provide solutions for the future as the programme was short-term focused and lacked proper ecological governance systems. In order for the solar home systems to contribute to energy poverty eradication and environmental protection, the study recommends a total overhaul of the programme which includes ensuring that the provision of SHSs is not viewed as a temporary measure that is only meant for poor rural households but a long-term and sustainable initiative.

scholarly journals Process elements contributing to community mobilization for HIV risk reduction and gender equality in rural South Africa

PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. e0225694
Author(s):  
Catherine MacPhail ◽  
Nomhle Khoza ◽  
Sarah Treves-Kagan ◽  
Amanda Selin ◽  
Xavier Gómez-Olivé ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Hiv Risk ◽  
Community Mobilization ◽  
Rural South ◽  
Hiv Risk Reduction ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Process Elements ◽  
Rural South Africa

scholarly journals Gendered Perceptions of Sexual Behaviour in Rural South Africa

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Ndinda ◽  
U. O. Uzodike ◽  
C. Chimbwete ◽  
M. T. M. Mgeyane
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sexual Behaviour ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Rural South ◽  
Rural People ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
Rural South Africa

This paper discusses sexual behaviour findings collected through eleven homogenous focus group discussions conducted among women and men in a predominantly Zulu population in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The objective of this paper is to shed light on sexual behaviour in a rural community. The findings suggest that sex is a taboo subject and the discussion around it is concealed in the use of polite language, euphemisms, and gestures. There are gender and generational dimensions to the discussion of sex. The contribution of this paper lies in the identification of what rural people discuss about sex and the influence of cultural practices and urban or global forces on sexual behaviour in rural areas. The paper adds to the growing body of literature on the use of focus groups in understanding sexual behaviour in rural contexts.

The Plight of Women and Children

2014 ◽  
Vol 652 (1) ◽  
pp. 106-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Bower
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Women ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Women And Children ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Education Justice

Despite South Africa having ratified several international and regional women’s and children’s rights treaties, and having one of the most admired constitutions in the world, the plight of women and children after 20 years of democracy remains, in many respects, dire—especially in rural communities. South Africa is a deeply conservative and patriarchal society, with high levels of violence in general and gender-based violence in particular. It has failed to create sufficient employment opportunities and to sustainably address intergenerational poverty, the latter of which impacts most severely rural women and children. HIV/AIDS has wreaked its most adverse effects on women and children. This context is exacerbated by breakdowns in the health, education, justice, and security sectors; the relative inaccessibility of services (such as health care, schooling, and housing); and the frequently poor quality of services when they are available.

scholarly journals Living Arrangements, Disability and Gender of Older Adults Among Rural South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 1112-1122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enid Schatz ◽  
Margaret Ralston ◽  
Sangeetha Madhavan ◽  
Mark A Collinson ◽  
F Xavier Gómez-Olivé
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Living Arrangement ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Rural South ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Rural South Africa

Abstract Objective A limited understanding exists of the relationship between disability and older persons’ living arrangements in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). We examine the associations between living arrangements, disability, and gender for individuals older than 50 years in rural South Africa. Method Using the Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) survey and Agincourt Health and socio-Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) data, we explore older persons’ self-reported disability by living arrangements and gender, paying particular attention to various multigenerational arrangements. Results Controlling for past disability status, a significant relationship between living arrangements and current disability remains, but is moderated by gender. Older persons in households where they may be more “productive” report higher levels of disability; there are fewer differences in women’s than men’s reported disability levels across living arrangement categories. Discussion This study underscores the need to examine living arrangements and disability through a gendered lens, with particular attention to heterogeneity among multigenerational living arrangements. Some living arrangements may take a greater toll on older persons than others. Important policy implications for South Africa and other LMICs emerge among vibrant debates about the role of social welfare programs in improving the health of older individuals.

scholarly journals RURAL WOMEN EMPOWERMENT THROUGH LOCAL DEMOCRACY IN INDIA: A CASE STUDY OF GRAM PANCHAYATS IN UTTAR DINAJPUR DISTRICT OF WEST BENGAL

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (01) ◽  
pp. 1065-1073
Author(s):  
Mithun Chandra Sarkar ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Political Participation ◽  
Gender Discrimination ◽  
Rural Women ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Women Empowerment ◽  
Political Activities ◽  
Political Processes ◽  
Local Decision ◽  
And Gender

The paper attempts to analyze the praxis of women empowerment and womens political participation of some Gram Panchayats in Uttar Dinajpur rural areas. In present times, the empowerment of women has become one of the most important concerns of the 21st century because of their right to participate in political processes which also impact their family and in turn the society. Many countries are attempting to increase womens political participation and leadership in civil society and now political parties want more women to join in political activities. Women around the world are still largely absent from national and local decision-making procedures. Globally about 20% of women participate in political activities, for women it is very difficult to participate in the civic and political life of their countries due to lack of support and gender discrimination. Strengthening womens rights and addressing obstacles to political participation are critical to achieving gender justice, equality, and women empowerment.

scholarly journals Addressing Unpaid Care and Domestic Work for a Gender-equal and Inclusive Kenya: WE-Care policy briefing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Oloo ◽  
Amber Parkes
Keyword(s):  
Care Work ◽  
Development Economic ◽  
Care Programme ◽  
Unpaid Care ◽  
Time Poverty ◽  
Social And Economic Development ◽  
Marginalized Women ◽  
Women And Girls ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Impact

Care work is the heartbeat of every society: it contributes to our wellbeing as a nation and is crucial for our social and economic development. Yet the disproportionate responsibility for unpaid care work results in time poverty and significant opportunity costs, particularly among the poorest and most marginalized women and girls. This policy brief outlines why unpaid care work is a critical development, economic and gender equality issue for Kenya. It draws on two sets of evidence from Oxfam’s Women’s Economic Empowerment and Care (WE-Care) programme, which explore the impact of women and girls’ heavy and unequal unpaid care responsibilities both before and during COVID-19.

scholarly journals Agro-Pruning for Energy as a Link between Rural Development and Clean Energy Policies

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 4240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Biljana Kulišić ◽  
Tajana Radić ◽  
Mario Njavro
Keyword(s):  
Rural Development ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Energy Planning ◽  
Perennial Crop ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
Energy Poverty ◽  
Classical Energy ◽  
Solid Biofuel

Agrarian pruning and plantation removal (APPR) is a common residue from pomo-technical maintenance of orchards, vineyards, and olive groves, frequently overlooked by the energy sector. This paper sheds new light on the socio-economic role of APPR as solid biofuel. The paper suggests business models that could both alleviate energy poverty in rural areas and increase the competitiveness of perennial crop (fruits, olives, vine) production. The effects of mobilizing APPR potential via business models are estimated at the micro (households’ income) and macro (number of households affected, size of the investment, tax effect, CO2eq savings) levels in the Croatian setting. Contrary to classical energy planning, the paper provides an approach that fosters local use of bioenergy by linking rural development with renewable energy end-use. The approach linked pruning energy potential with 47% of Croatian rural households which allows creating an evidence-based policy for rural development utilizing APPR as a sustainable solid biofuel. The most attractive business model for Croatian rural areas is utilization of APPR as a solid biofuel. It could be used as an energy poverty alleviation measure, allowing savings per heating season equivalent to 5%–11% of the average disposable income per household. Net APPR influence at VAT tax is estimated at 5.5 million euro·y−1. The paper proves that using average values for APPR in energy planning could be misleading.

scholarly journals Life Expectancy in Rural Areas of Kurdistan Province, Iran in 2013

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 117-182
Author(s):  
Rahmatoolah Bahrami ◽  
◽  
Kamran Noori ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Rural Women ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Health Planning ◽  
Average Life ◽  
Average Life Expectancy ◽  
Life Expectancy At Birth ◽  
The Social ◽  
And Gender

Life expectancy at birth is one of the most important indicators of the social, economic, cultural, and health development in any society. This descriptive epidemiological study aims to measure life expectancy by age and gender in rural areas of Kurdistan Province, Iran. Data were collected directly using mortality information obtained from the health center of Kurdistan Province and the registered population in 2013. The findings showed that life expectancy is different in rural areas of Kurdistan Province. Life expectancy at birth in rural areas of the Province was estimated at 70.6 years on average, where it was 72 years for women and 69.3 years for men. The highest life expectancy of men is in Saqez city with 70.6 and the lowest in Kamyaran and Devandarah city with 68.6 years. The highest life expectancy is estimated in rural women with 74 years in Baneh city and the lowest in Dehgolan city with 69.9 years, respectively. The results showed different years of life expectancy in terms of gender in rural areas of Kurdistan Province. The national average life expectancy is about 2 years higher than that in rural areas of Kurdistan Province. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the life expectancy in these Province via fair distribution of facilities and services and prioritizing its rural areas in health planning.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document