Relationship between Social Determinants and Uptake of Solar Cooking Projects in Refugee Camps in Kenya: A Case of Kakuma Refugee Camp.
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Date
2018-07
Authors
Kaburu, Mawira Godfrey
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Firewood is part of the emergency supplies given to refugees for domestic fuel needs in
Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya’s remote North-West. However getting adequate supplies
for the sprawling refugee camp has proved to be increasingly challenging and environmentally
damaging. Solar cooking projects have been implemented as possible solutions but to date
solar cooking adoption in refugee camps has been low. This study aimed to investigate
influence of social determinants on uptake of solar cooking projects and specifically sought to
establish the relationships between social norms, family size, security and safety, education
level and beneficiary participation on uptake of solar cooking projects in Kakuma refugee
camp in Kenya. A cross-sectional study was done involving 122 refugee households,
systematically sampled from 2000 past beneficiaries of solar cooking projects within Kakuma
Refugee Camp. Questionnaires were completed to collect information and descriptive statistics
used to summarize the findings. All the 122 questionnaires gave a mean age (SD) 37.8 (8.6);
85% female with data showing that households in Kakuma acquire domestic fuel via different
means such as firewood collection from neighbouring bushes, purchases from local vendors or
donations from aid agencies. Firewood use on open fires was the modal cooking practice at
83.6%, followed by charcoal at 15.6% and solar cooking at 0.8%. Use of other alternative fuels
like gas, ethanol or kerosene was found to be insignificant. Adoption of solar cooking was
observed to be under influence of social norms, family size and education level with greater
uptake noted among respondents with higher education levels and lower uptake among large
families. The study concludes that social determinants influence uptake of solar cooking
projects in Kakuma Refugee Camp. Education, social norms and security stimulate uptake of
solar cooking while socio-cultural attributes of social norms like gender, family size,
beneficiary participation, the households’ common cuisine and the preferred place and time of
cooking affect preferences on type of domestic fuel. Absence of local skills for operation and
maintenance is hampering solar cooking uptake so to ensure sustainability there is need to
develop local capacity after solar cooking projects are launched. Aid agencies need to
undertake more solar cooking advocacy and trainings, making the refugees aware of alternative
fuel options and the benefits of shifting from wood-based fuels to green fuel solutions. The
relief agencies need to work together with local businesses and private sector to extend access
to clean-energy in refugee camps, with view to developing clean fuel markets. Lastly the
Kenyan standards for clean cookstoves is yet to be developed to cover alternative fuel devices
like solar-cookers and ethanol stoves thus there is need to expand existing standards to address
durability and performance issues associated with low-cost solar-cookers.
Description
A Research Project Submitted to the School Of Business in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements
For the Award of Degree in Master of Business Administration (Project Management Option)
Kenyatta University. July 2018.