Gender Balance And Energy Policy: A Case of Rukungiri District Uganda

ABSTRACT The topic of research was gender balance and energy policy; a case of Rukungiri districtUganda. The main objective of this study was to establish the relationship between gender balance and energy policy with particular attention to masculinity issues so as to contribute to the formulation of a policy that takes into account gender issues of sensitive nature. The researcher did not want to lose strategic focus of research objectives and thus formulated research questions to guide in realization of his objectives as follows: what are the characteristics of a gender balanced energy policy and what conditions enable the integration of gender in a national energy policy? To find answers to the research questions, a literature study was carried out, which also provided theoretical background information on gender mainstreaming and on energy policy. The researcher also developed and administered a survey to 96 respondents to collect qualitative data. Five characteristics of a gender balanced energy policy were identified. They include: gendermainstreaming, participation, recognition of women's role in the energy provision and use and their energy needs, an integrated energy planning (IEP) approach, and a gender-disaggregated data on male and female energy use. Six conditions were identified to realize a gender balanced energy policy and these were analyzed to determine whether these conditions were achieved in Uganda. These were: participatory framework, methodological framework, and legal framework, establishment of a political framework, an institutional framework and a financial framework. By way of recommendation, the process towards a gender balanced energy policy should therefore start with the conditions for realizing it and fulfilling these conditions creates an enabling background for gender-mainstreaming. Then the process moves on towards the characteristics of a gender balanced energy policy that needs to be taken into consideration when integrating gender into energy policy. To overcome gender imbalance among other things, energy policy-makers should try to mainstream gender issues. A gender balanced energy policy should therefore ensure that the energy needs and energy concerns of both men and women are considered. Besides some exceptions, women are generally under-represented at the decisionmaking level in the energy sector and are rarely consulted regarding energy projects. The government needs to focus on the demand-side of the energy sector. A gender balanced energy policy should furthermore recognize women's role in the energy provision and use and their energy needs. Women fulfil a triple role in society; namely; a productive, reproductive and a community role. They have energy needs according to those roles, like cooking, energy for income generating activities, lighting, and many others. These should be considered during energy policy formulation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................. i 

APPROVAL .................................................................................................................................... i 

DEDICATION ................................................................................................................................ ii 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................................. iii 

LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... viii 

LIST OF TABLE ........................................................................................................................... ix 

LIST OF ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................. x 

LIST OF APPENDICES ................................................................................................................ xi 

OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS .............................................................................. xii 

ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................. xiv 

CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................................. I 

INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... I 

1.1.1 Historical Perspective ......................................................................................................... I 

1.1.2 Theoretical Perspective ...................................................................................................... I 

1.1.3 Contextual Perspective ....................................................................................................... 3 

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM .................................................................................... 4 

1.3 PURPOSE OF STUDY ......................................................................................................... 5 

1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY .......................................................................................... 5 

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ................................................................................................... 6 

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY ............................................................................................... 6 

CHAPTER TWO: ........................................................................................................................... 7 

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ...................................................................................... 7 

2.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 7 

2.1 CHARACTERISTICS OF A GENDER BALANCED ENERGY POLICY ........................ 7 

IV 

2.1.1 The Conceptual Review of Gender ................................................................................ 7 

2.1.2Gender Balance ............................................................................................................... 9 

2.1.3 Gender Main streaming ................................................................................................. 11 

2.1.4Gender and Energy Policy ............................................................................................. 13 

2.1.5 THE INTEGRA TED ENERGY PLANNING APPROACH ....................................... 13 

2.1.6 Gender and Energy Policy ............................................................................................ 16 

2.1. 7Gender-Angle of Energy Policy .................................................................................... 18 

2.1.8 Gender Blindness Policies in the Energy Sector .......................................................... 21 

2.2 GENDER BALANCE AND ENERGY POLICY .............................................................. 22 

2.3 CONDITIONS FOR A GENDER-BALANCED ENERGY POLICY ............................... 26 

2.3.1 The underlying principles for ensuring a gender balanced Energy Policy ................... 26 

2.3.2 Gender Needs ............................................................................................................... 27 

2.4 DEVELOPMENTS IN UGANDA GEARED TOWARDS A GENDER BALANCED 

ENERGY AND CONDITIONS FOR REALIZING SUCH A POLICY IN UGANDA ............. 35 

2.4.1 Gender in Uganda ......................................................................................................... 35 

2.4.2 Energy in Uganda ......................................................................................................... 35 

2.4.3 Gender and Energy in Uganda ..................................................................................... 37 

2.5 CONDITIONS FOR A GENDER BALANCED ENERGY POLICY ............................... 39 

2.5.1 Participatory Framework .............................................................................................. 39 

2.5.2 Methodological Framework ......................................................................................... 40 

2.5.3Legal Framework ........................................................................................................... 42 

2.5 .4 Political framework ...................................................................................................... 44 

2.5.5 Institutional Framework ............................................................................................... 46 

2.5.6 Financial Framework .................................................................................................... 48 

CHAPTER THREE: ..................................................................................................................... 50 

v 

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: ................................................................................................ 50 

3.0 INTRODUCTION: .......................................................................................................... 50 

3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN: ...................................................................................................... 50 

3.2 STUDY POPULATION ..................................................................................................... 50 

3.3 SAMPLE SELECTION PROCEDURE: ............................................................................ 51 

3.4SAMPLE SIZE: ................................................................................................................... 51 

3.5 DATA COLLECTION METHODS: .................................................................................. 52 

3.6 RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS ........................................................................................... 52 

3. 7 VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF INSTRUMENTS: .................................................. 53 

3.8 DATA ANALYSIS: ............................................................................................................ 54 

3.9 STUDY LIMITATIONS ..................................................................................................... 54 

CHAPTER FOUR: ....................................................................................................................... 55 

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION .......................................... 55 

4.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 55 

4.1 DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF RESPONDENTS ....................................... 55 

4.2 CHARACTERISTICS OF A GENDER BALANCED ENERGY POLICY ...................... 56 

4.3 CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH A GENDER BALANCED ENERGY POLICY CAN BE 

ACHIEVED .............................................................................................................................. 59 

4.4 CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS GEARED TOWARDS A GENDER BALANCED 

ENERGY POLICY IN UGANDA ............................................................................................ 60 

4.5 CONDITIONS FOR REALIZATION OF A GENDER BALANCED ENERGY POLICY 

IN UGANDA ............................................................................................................................ 62 

CHAPTER FIVE .......................................................................................................................... 66 

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................... 66 

5.0 SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................ 66 

5.1 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................... 67 

vi 

5.2 RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................... 68 

5.2.1 THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A GENDER-BALANCED ENERGY POLICY ....... 68 

5.2.2 THE CONDITIONS FOR REALIZING A GENDER-BALANCED ENERGY 

POLICY ................................................................................................................................. 70 

5.2.3 DEVELIOPMENTS IN UGANDA GEARED TOWARDS A GENDER BALANVED 

ENERGY POLICY AND CONDITIONS FOR SUCH A REALIZATION ........................ 73 

5.3 AREAS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH .......................................................................... 73 

BIBLIOGRAPHY ......................................................................................................................... 75