Addressing gender dimensions in energy innovations: A gender analysis framework for informal urban settlements in Africa

Abstract

Energy innovation to provide energy services for Informal urban settlements is thus far gender blind. The invisibility of gendered energy needs impedes addressing energy insecurity concerns to promote the adoption of energy innovations, especially in the Global South. Energy insecurity is significantly rampant in informal urban settlements inhabited by about 50% of SSA. Women and girls are not only the most vulnerable but also disproportionately affected by this phenomenon. There is a need to understand the gender-energy nexus in informal urban settlements to mainstream gender in the energy innovation process. It is evident that the existing gender analysis frameworks fail to address gendered energy needs, and none are specific to the context of informal urban settlements. The similarity in the formation of informal settlements across the continent informs the scope of this paper. Through an integrative literature review, a critical content analysis addresses two objectives; understanding the gender dimensions within energy innovation processes and conceptualising appropriate gender analysis tools for energy innovation processes in informal urban settlements. Some emergent gender inequality dimensions unique to informal settlements include limited exposure to energy innovations; poor health outcomes and higher mortality rates in women and children; limited financial capacity, poor skills training, low participation and lack of gender-sensitive energy policies. These factors are subsequently reconciled in developing a context-specific gender analysis framework to embed gender in energy innovation processes. The newly devised gender analysis framework could inform energy policy and enhance the adoption of energy innovations in Informal urban settlements in Africa.