“The Problem is a Lack of Firewood”: Charcoal briquettes for cooking energy in refugee and host communities

Abstract

In Africa the population of refugees is increasing, resulting in ‘accidental urban centres’ often in remote arid landscapes. Firewood and charcoal, the main sources of cooking energy on the continent, are in short supply in refugee settings. This research is based on a series of interrelated studies conducted among Kalobeyei refugee and host communities in Northwestern Kenya using mixed methods from social and natural sciences. Firewood is inadequate, and 95% of households exchanged or sold food to buy cooking fuel. Energy poverty leaves women feeling disempowered and frustrated and causes conflicts between the refugee and host communities. Charcoal briquettes produced and used by the women emerged as a viable cooking fuel. Women stated that marketing challenges and difficulties in sourcing the raw materials may hinder growth of briquettes as a business. Possible solutions include using biomass from the invasive Prosopis juliflora (currently used for charcoal), establishing “briquette kiosks”, and integrating briquettes into development plans. In refugee contexts, approaches to food insecurity should integrate cooking energy and give women an opportunity to voice their needs and aspirations.

Keywords

• Refugee and host community settlements
• Trading food aid for cooking energy
• Women's empowerment
• Kenya