Towards a theoretical framework for gendered energy transition at the urban household level: A case of Mozambique

Abstract

The demand of urban environments for charcoal and fuelwood is responsible for the unprecedented forest degradation in Mozambique. Not surprisingly, solid fuels comprise the bulk of the energy demand in the country, and a marginal number of urban households use clean energy sources for cooking. Evidence shows that biomass consumption has a disproportional effect on women. Their needs are often overlooked when policies are designed, and they are yet to benefit fully from the outcomes of these policies. Through a systematic integrative literature review of 154 sources, this paper shows that the existing energy transitional frameworks are arguably circumscribed by the Global North where access to modern energy sources is no longer the subject of debate. Instead, the energy transition debates are driven mainly by the climate change paradox. This paper develops arguments for a theoretical framework for gendered energy transition, focusing on developing economies. By exploring the Mozambican context, a localised energy system assessment was performed followed by an analysis of the gender role and the factors that drive fuel choice decisions within urban households. The main finding is that the existing frameworks lack a gender perspective and a theoretical framework to address solid fuels dependence in urban environments. Building on the current literature, we illustrate a potential framework for gendered energy transition using an example of the use of liquified petroleum gas and electricity. The critical recommendation is that debates on the gender-energy nexus require assertion of the efficacy of the existing transition frameworks through gender audit research.