Bundle of Powers to Access Solar Energy: Search for an enabling environment for women-to-women network in solar energy enhancement initiatives

Sammanfattning

Irrespective of the abundance of solar energy resources, its access to the low-income communities of rural Tanzania is challenged by multifaceted barriers. Again, the current access goal in energy ignored the gender perspective of access. There is no alternative to establishing women-led solar energy enhancement initiatives to mitigate those access barriers and equally address gender inequality in energy access. But the effectiveness of this access mechanism depends on an integrated support system that offers them an enabling environment. Through the lens of the theory of access and gender system theory, this paper aims to identify the required support to facilitate the women-to-women network enhancing energy access and reducing gender inequality. A qualitative research method was explored through a case study and literature review. The study identified a bundle of support, including technical and entrepreneurial skills, market linkage, social acceptance, and financial inclusion mandatory for such mechanism. This study also seeks women-centric energy access data and more research on the women-centric approach in the solar energy sector to bring confidence among the financial institutions, demand women-centric energy access goals and policies, and promote integrated actions to address solar energy access barriers in the future.