Yours, mine, and ours: gender, intra-household dynamics, and financing solar home systems in Tanzania

Abstract

The financing of off-grid solar is a crucial component for the expansion of electricity access, particularly across sub-Saharan Africa. Emerging literature in energy access research analyzes the role of gender and inequalities in access and subsequent outcomes; however, beyond gendered outcomes, the field has yet to interrogate the intra-household dynamics of obtaining access. The literatures of the intra-household dynamics of budgeting and energy access have remained distinct. Bridging these literatures, we present the first analysis of if and how intra-household dynamics relate to how individuals obtain energy access through our specific case of financing solar home systems (SHS). Drawing on 113 interviews across four districts in Tanzania, we employ qualitative thematic analysis and quantitative generalized linear model-based prevalence ratio estimates. We find five categories of how SHS adopters describe gender and intra-household dynamics relating to the financing of their SHS. We find it inappropriate to treat the household as a single entity as in half our sample, women are either solely or jointly responsible for financing the SHS. Female headed households have a higher prevalence of relying on debt to finance their SHS, while households with female financial decision-making power have a higher prevalence of relying on savings. The unitary model of a household limits the sector’s ability to efficiently support multi-adult households as they navigate individual needs and preferences in the financing and ultimate acquisition of the SHS. Researchers, policy makers, and the private sector could further acknowledge and explore intra-household dynamics and consider shifting the focus away from debt-based financing towards energy-dedicated savings accounts for female customers and improving borrowing conditions for female headed households.