Collective capabilities: overcoming energy scarcity through power sharing

Abstract: The research explores the intersection of social relations and energy capabilities in the Global South. Specifically, it provides insight into everyday ‘sharing practices’ in overcoming electricity scarcity. This is based on a decade of regular immersions in a rural Gambian community which was supported by a range of qualitative methods including observations and semi-structured interviews. Findings suggest that energy capabilities can be improved at different scales in the community through sharing practices that are historically rooted in social norms and values. This is conceptualised here as collective energy capabilities for mitigating energy scarcity. However, currently sharing practices do not easily translate into sustainable and bottom-up management of collectively used or owned energy assets to achieve more systemic shifts towards democratic models of energy for all.

Keywords: Energy poverty; energy access, energy democracy, Global South, SDG7, capability approach, energy and wellbeing, West Africa.

Article posted to the Journal of the British Academy, volume 9, supplementary issue 7 (Climate Change, Public Health and Wellbeing)