eCook and Gender in Tanzania

Executive Summary
This report presents a gendered analysis of eCook in Tanzania, with the aim of informing the development of a battery-supported electric cooking concept, eCook. It is part of a broader programme of work, designed to identify and investigate the opportunities and challenges that await in high impact markets such as Tanzania.

Clancy et al. (2012) categorised the potential gendered effects of modern and efficient energy solutions into time saving and drudgery reduction; income generation; resistance to change and transformation of gender roles. In this study, Clancy et al.'s (2012) factors are used as a framework to consider the potential gendered impacts, barriers and drivers of the eCook concept.

Time saving & drudgery reduction - eCook can make cooking quicker and easier. Although people who could save significant time and effort from collecting fuelwood could benefit significantly from adopting eCook products/services, they are not eCook’s primary target market because they have no existing expenditure to repay the capital costs of the equipment. However, transporting bulky fuels such as a sack of charcoal and even an LPG cylinder from the point of sale to the kitchen is still an arduous task that reoccurs monthly and could be substituted with carrying a new set of batteries once every six years. What is more, pressing a button is much quicker than lighting & tending fires; & efficient appliances such as the electric pressure cooker can cut cooking times in half.

Income generation - cooking is a productive activity that is often overlooked in energy access programs. There is a clear opportunity to apply the time saved to create new livelihoods for women who adopt eCook systems by cooking more food for sale. Of course, there is also the potential to enhance the existing livelihoods of street vendors, restaurants and shops selling cooked food.

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eCook and Gender in Tanzania

[eCook and Gender in Tanzania]

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