LocationsHow Access to Solar Energy can economically empower women in Guinea-Bissau
August 9, 2024
Aunt Npili an elder from the village of Cobiana in Guiné-Bissau
Aunt Npili, a woman from the small village of Cobiana, nestled in the region of Cacheu. Cobiana is a protected area overseen by the Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Areas (IBAP). The village, comprising five small neighborhoods spread over a 7 km radius, is home to around 500 people, with women making up just over half of the population. In her lifetime, Aunt Npili has toiled to extract palm oil, pick cashew nuts, gather fruits such as foli, and craft brooms sold in the Senegalese market. Her work, like that of many other women in Cobiana, is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and often detrimental to both health and the environment. The village's water sources are either dried up or contaminated, forcing residents to collect wood and boil water for safe drinking, a task that consumes time and energy.
Our journey to Cobiana was challenging; heavy rains had blocked both roads leading to the village, underscoring the isolation and vulnerability of this community. In emergencies, this inaccessibility poses a significant threat to the villagers' safety and well-being. Cobiana lacks a real economy, with most production aimed at personal sustenance. The absence of electricity hampers market access and stifles economic growth. During our djumbai (informal gathering) with the village women, we explored the potential of solar energy to improve their lives and economic growth. Our objective is to understand how access to solar energy can improve their livelihoods and empower them through economic activities.
Blocked road into Cobiana, due to heavy rains.
Background
In Guinea-Bissau, only 35.76% of the population has access to energy, with most of this limited resource concentrated in the capital, Bissau. For those living in rural areas, the situation is even more dire, as they face significant challenges due to the lack of reliable energy sources. This stark disparity is compounded by the country's underdeveloped infrastructure, making energy access and usage even more difficult.
Energy access is crucial for the health and well-being of Guinea-Bissau's population, especially for women. The absence of energy forces women into strenuous domestic labor, posing severe health risks and leaving them with little time for education, economic activities, or family care. Our project is grounded in the belief that providing sustainable energy solutions can transform this dynamic. By introducing individual solar grids, we aim to free up time for women, allowing them to pursue educational and entrepreneurial opportunities, thereby supporting Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) on gender equality.
Implementing sustainable energy sources not only improves women's health and well-being but also reduces deforestation and helps mitigate climate change. While energy access alone won't solve all challenges, it lays the foundation for economic opportunities that can uplift entire communities. Women, often the primary breadwinners, stand to benefit immensely, and in turn, so do their families and communities.
Design Thinking questionnaire to further our understanding regarding energy use in Cobiana.
How Might We Economically Empower Women of the Cacheu Region Through Access to Solar Energy?
Through the Accelerator Lab learning cycle, we are testing a hypothesis:
IF women in Cacheu have access to solar energy, THEN traditional harmful and time-consuming practices they engage in will become less strenuous, freeing up time for them to participate in economic activities that can boost the local economy.
Exploring Cobiana: Understanding Energy Perceptions and Economic Activities
Our first exploration visits to Cobiana aimed to understand the current perception of energy, existing economic activities, and interactions between the neighborhoods from an ethnographic perspective. We used three main methodologies:
1. Behavioral Analysis: We observed behaviors without direct engagement to map common practices.
2. Design Thinking Questionnaire: We explored energy use and current practices, focusing on women (70F/30M) and potential economic activities.
3. Focus Groups: We gathered input from the entire population on the best ways to use energy and what is currently being done. The focus groups were later divided into female and male groups for more in-depth conversations.
Solar powered radio used by the youth in the village of Cobiana.
Key Insights from Phase 1 Exploration
The three methodologies we used to understand the existing dynamics of energy use were enlightening. They confirmed several assumptions from our behavioral observations, such as the fact that women primarily handle domestic labour and that the community recognizes the value of solar energy, evidenced by small solar panels in every household. However, some crucial insights emerged only through deeper one-on-one conversations and gender-divided focus groups. Here are the main insights we discovered:
⦁ Knowledge: Despite never having full access to energy, communities understand its benefits. Every household had one or two small solar panels for small lights, hand lanterns, speakers, and power banks. Admittedly, they mentioned that it was impossible for them to come up with new activities that could benefit from energy, given that they had never had access to it in the first place.
⦁ Culture and Tradition: Cultural and traditional influences impact how the community interacts with electricity. For instance, ancestors visiting the community do not want to see electricity, highlighting the need for an "on/off" button for installed systems.
⦁ Trust: Previous failed projects have led to a lack of trust in external initiatives. The community values collective ownership and follow-through.
⦁ Maintenance and Security: The community is willing to contribute to the maintenance of solar panels and economic activities, emphasizing the importance of co-designing structures to ensure longevity.
Community members making their way to the focus group discussions.
What Have We Learned?
For the project to be sustainable, it must consider the key components raised by the village population. Local expertise is essential for ensuring community ownership of the project and understanding the need for economic activities to maintain the solar panel systems.
An exchange with the Malawi Accelerator Lab and Environment team provided valuable lessons from a similar project. Although the context differed slightly, key takeaways included:
1. Progress can be slow, but the value of electricity becomes apparent over time.
2. Identifying champions can encourage others to use energy for economic activities through value chain identification.
3. Close collaboration with the government can support small changes to improve overall solar energy use.
Youth of Cobiana sharing their experiences on energy use.
What Next?
The next steps in this learning cycle include mapping existing activities in Cobiana, proposing economic activities that can benefit from solar energy, and collaborating with existing projects like Kau Criar and No Firmanta that focus on economic empowerment and entrepreneurship for vulnerable groups. These projects offer local expertise that can be invaluable in ensuring success in rural communities like Cobiana.
This learning cycle is ongoing, and we will continue to blog about developments in stages.