Department of Social Science
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Browsing Department of Social Science by Subject "Africa"
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Item Open Access “A Lender Should Not Know Where You Live”: Financial precarity, debt, and everyday life in rural Malawi and Tanzania(2022-12-21) Ojong, Nathanael; Gill-Wiehl, AnneliseThis paper examines the loan sources used by rural solar home system adopters to meet their everyday needs, as well as the motivations for using these sources. The findings show that people in rural areas take into account social and economic factors when making a decision regarding where to seek a loan. People borrowed money from individuals with whom they had strong ties, which could be parents, siblings, cousins, uncles, aunts, friends, and neighbours. There is heterogeneity regarding where people situate family members in the weak/strong ties continuum. The results show that people preferred borrowing money from individuals with whom they had relationships based on the principle of reciprocity, suggesting their preference to avoid dependency in favour of equality. The findings also show that spatial and social proximity are intimately interconnected, and that both play an important role in determining where people turn to when in need of a loan. In several cases, the provision of a loan was based on a combination of both dimensions of proximity. Our findings have implications for energy policy that increasingly requires households to bear the financial demands of access to basic energy services.Item Open Access Solar Power and the Struggle for Electrification in Africa(2024-05) Ojong, NathanaelOff-grid solar technologies have emerged as one of the remedies to Africa’s severe lack of access to electricity. Evidence from Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, and Kenya suggests that these systems positively affect income generation, education, health, and safety and security. Despite its potential, off-grid solar power’s technical limitations, combined with concerns about durability and environmental impact, underscore the need for more comprehensive solutions. Addressing Africa’s electrification crisis requires a multifaceted approach involving collaboration among various stakeholders to ensure sustainable, reliable, and inclusive energy access.