Paper short abstract:

Access to energy and internet, following productive use of electricity and digital services has significant impacts on rural under-served community livelihood. We introduce how such a concept built in a solar cooker can foster digital and gender inclusion, education and new business in Global South.

Paper long abstract:

In Africa, food is mainly prepared under open fire. Burning wood or charcoal for cooking cause deforestation. Other drawbacks are negative impacts on health, socio-economic development, cooking is time consuming taking most of the time of women and girls, who traditionally are responsible in food preparation. Solar energy holds high potential to become one of the main energy sources in Africa, offering a solution to overcome traditional fuels. We have witnessed how solar and battery-energy-storage-powered electric cookers equipped with internet access provisioning have huge socio-economic impacts, changed the lives, and improved livelihood in rural under-served communities in Zambia. Through surveys, we have got in-depth insights of local surroundings. Such solution can close digital divide gap and gender inequality. Women, in particular, are benefitting; time is saved; there is no need to go gather firewood or buy charcoal from long distances. Cooking times are reduced significantly, and since having solar cookers, even men who previously didn’t cook have start cooking, freeing more time for women. Women have started using this freed time to engage more in afforestation activities, and/or crafting and selling the end products. With productive use of energy and internet access new small business can emerge. Girls can go to school and focus on school homework. This highlights transformation of structural gender inequality, digital inclusion and encourages a shift in gender roles for future generations. With the access to such technology, all family members, regardless of their gender, age, are participating in cooking and take advantages of newly-opened opportunities.