INTRODUCTION

This Policy Brief is part of a package of support targeted towards the delivery of the ‘Run-of-River Hydropower Project Preparation for Community Energy Access” project in Oyo, Kano, and Plateau

States. The project, which is a key component of the UK-PACT programme is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and implemented through Palladium International Ltd, as the Grantor with the Africa PPP Advisory Services (AP3) as implementing partner.

Based on findings from a situation analysis of the above States, this document offers policy recommendations for addressing probable inclusion and gender-related challenges within the context of the project. This is particularly relevant given that State governments now have powers to adopt innovative mechanisms for delivering electricity directly to citizens, a mandate which was exclusive to the Federal government until July 2023.

BACKGROUND

The 2022 Constitutional Amendment expands the power of Nigeria’s 36 States in terms of on-grid electricity delivery across generation, transmission, and distribution (Paragraph The 1999 Constitution, paragraph 14(b), part II, Second
Schedule).

Before this amendment, the powers of State governments were mostly limited to off-grid electricity supply and to the very few areas, which are not covered by Nigeria’s single national grid. The constitutional amendment was followed in 2023 by the repeal of the passage of the Electricity Act, which replaces the 18-year-old Electric Power Sector Reforms Act (EPSRA) of 2005. By the combined effect of the provisions of sections 2(2), 63(1), 230 (2–9) of the Electricity Act, the respective States of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are now empowered to create their own electricity markets, establish their State regulatory boards to oversee electricity activities.

The Run of the River Project is based on the decentralisation of Nigeria’s electricity market and proposes to comprehensively rehabilitate, modernise, and optimize critical power sector infrastructure assets in Oyo, Kano, and Plateau States. However, global best practice suggests that projects like this run the risk of reinforcing pre-existing gender inequities and creating new ones if certain issues are not addressed at the planning stage.

SUMMARY OF MAIN FINDINGS

Below are excerpts from the findings contained in the comprehensive gender situation analysis report.

While men and women are involved in different economic activities, men tend to own and control economic resources such as land and finance.

This cuts across States and different types of productive activities. For instance, it was established that a significant proportion of female farmers in Kano do not participate in key decision-making positions in certain tasks or agricultural communities. Their spouses make decisions on their behalf due to patriarchy, cultural and traditional beliefs. Similarly, in Oyo State women face challenges with access to finance due to lack of property rights and the absence of collateral.

State governments now have powers adopt innovative mechanisms to deliver electricity directly to citizens, a mandate which was exclusive to the Federal government until July 2023.

Energy Poverty affects every demographic group especially in rural communities with as much as 80% of the rural populace using dirty cooking energy that exposes households to various health issues and environmental degradation. Women are disproportionately affected by energy poverty in terms of being under-served, erratic and unreliable grid power. As primary managers of energy and water, women spend many hours fetching these resources.

Furthermore, the spatial arrangement of rural communities limited secondary activities and poor financial livelihood conditions continue to limit the possibility of electricity distribution from conventional sources. Additionally, the use of firewood has contributed to massive deforestation thereby destroying carbon sinks.

Renewable energy technologies remain unaffordable for many poor, vulnerable and marginalised households especially in rural areas. Solar panels, batteries, and other renewable technologies require substantial upfront investment, which most Nigerians, especially low-income households, struggle to afford. Also, suppliers of renewable energy technologies have not adopted inclusive business models that enable participation among underserved populations

There is a gendered division of labour when it comes to the uptake of renewable technologies. For instance, it was highlighted that Solar Home Systems (SHS) are viewed as infrastructure for women given that they are used more by women and children (for reading). Meanwhile, hard-wired energy systems are viewed as infrastructure for men given that more men are involved in the value chain for grid infrastructure. Also, in some cases, renewable sources of energy are being deployed to health infrastructure and water infrastructure while households are not connected resulting in the use firewood for activities cooking and productive activities such as the procession of shea butter cream.

Climate change has different economic and social implications for different demographic groups.

The situation analysis found that climate change affects access to markets due to damaged road networks and bridges. The report suggests that men were more (59.2%) vulnerable because they are responsible for taking family goods to the market, especially in contexts where they control all the family resources.

Global best practice suggests that run of the river projects could reinforce pre-existing gender and social inequities or create new ones if certain issues are not addressed at the planning stage.

Meanwhile, women are also affected by climate change in terms of failed crops, low yields and limited income-generating activities, which leads to food and nutrition insecurity as well as decreased household income. Also, women travel long distances, which exposes them to the risk of gender-based violence (e.g., sexual harassment and rape) along the way.

Compensation for dispossessed lands is not automatically democratic and does not always reach intended beneficiaries.

The situation analysis notes that dispossession and inadequate compensation to local communities, causes land conflicts in renewable energy zones. Furthermore, even where compensation is released to communities, already established patterns of resource ownership and control can lead to compensation remaining in the hands of a few and not benefiting the community more broadly.

POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

To mitigate the above, there is a need to consider the following measures while planning the Run-of-River Hydropower Project Preparation for Community Energy Access” project in Oyo, Kano, and Plateau States.

A deliberate targeting of women’s inclusion in discussions and negotiations with communities around access to productive resources such as land and finance.

The integration of mini-grids, off-grid systems, and community-based energy access programs as part of compensation for dispossessed lands. These programmes would need to adopt inclusive business models and flexible payment mechanisms (e.g., PAYGo-type approaches) to expand participation among underserved populations.

The inclusion of system-level affordability protections (e.g. targeted subsidies and lifeline tariffs) and a linking of energy access to income-generation support for low-income and marginalised groups

The adoption of safety/GBV risk mitigation measures as part of infrastructure rehabilitation and the design of service access (E.g., safe access routes, decentralised services, safeguards, and referral pathways in programmes).

Author

Dr. Stella Odiase, Gender and Inclusion Expert.