Energy is a critical enabler in reaching development goals. However, the benefits of increased access to modern and cleaner energy services often fail to accrue evenly to men and women. The African Development Bank and ENERGIA recognise the need to prioritise policy action in the field of gender and energy to meet the inter- national Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This country brief on gender and energy in Tanzania is one in a series to support equality of access and use of energy by women and men through evidence-based initiatives. The Government of Tanzania prioritises access to energy as an essential component of its Development Vision 2025 and the realisation of the medium-term development objectives (2016/17 – 2020/21).

Consideration of gender in the development agenda is central to unleashing potentials for women and men to participate, benefit and contribute to the envisaged socio-economic transformations of the country.

This brief provides insights into the current status of gender and energy in Tanzania and a policy analysis. It presents key data, an overview of the institutional set-up and targets on gender and energy, and an analysis of barriers and opportunities based on an expert review of policy documents and consultations with key stakeholders. This leads to a set of recommendations for future gender-sensitive interventions.

The Sustainable Energy for All Initiative(SEforALL) is a global ve launched in 2011 by United Nations (UN) to mobilize all stakeholders to take concrete actions towards ensuring universal access to modern energy services; double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency; and double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2030. Adhering to this UN global SEforALL Initiative, Tanzania became one of the 14 African countries to commit to the SEforALL in 2012, when the Global Ac on Agenda was endorsed.

Energy plays a pivotal role in achieving Tanzania’s development objectives, particularly in improving the quality of life for its citizens while safeguarding the environment. To meet these ambitions, the energy sector is undergoing comprehensive reforms designed to address existing challenges, including the adoption of energy efficiency measures. These reforms are essential not only for enhancing energy security but also for mitigating the impacts of climate change.

Energy efficiency refers to the use of less energy to produce the same output of goods and services, without compromising on quality or quantity. It involves the deployment of advanced technologies that optimize energy use and the adoption of behavioural changes that reduce overall energy consumption. Despite the clear economic benefits of energy efficiency—such as reduced operational costs for industries and lowered electricity bills for consumers—progress in this area has been suboptimal. Factors such as insufficient information, limited financial resources, lack of expertise, and low levels of motivation have hindered the widespread adoption of energy-efficient technologies and practices.