Understanding the diffusion and adoption of improved cookstove technologies in Uganda through the technological innovation system

About 2.5 billion people in the world rely on the traditional use of solid bioenergy to cook their meals, and in Sub-Saharan Africa almost 80% of the population still cooks with solid bioenergy. Despite the multifaceted promises associated with improved cookstoves to overcome the inefficient use of bioenergy, their diffusion and adoption remains slow. In making a contribution towards understanding this problem, this thesis departs from the extensive studies that explain it from the users’ and technology attributes’ perspective, and interrogates the role of systemic factors. The thesis draws from the Technological Innovation Systems (TIS) theory, and employs an interpretive multiple case research design. Data was collected using a multi-method approach including semi-structured interviews, document analysis, Focus Group Discussions and direct observation, and it was thematically analysed. The improved cookstove TIS in Uganda is at a critical stage of going through what I have called structural thinning resulting from change of context in terms of national policy direction and reduced external funding, which brings in the critical question of ability of the system to cope with, and overcome these structural shocks. Structural thinning refers to premature disengagement of key structural elements from the TIS. This change in context comes at a time when the system, which started in the 1980s is working under a largely misaligned structure and the key processes (functions) are largely externally induced, exposing the system at all levels (firm, network and national) to the vagaries of the changing needs and priorities of the external dominant actors especially development partners and carbon finance projects. Although entry of firms is perceived in literature as an inducement to systems in the formative stages, in Uganda’s case it portends a barrier because of firms’ capability and motivation issues. Stove dissemination is largely limited to urban areas and the quality of locally manufactured stoves is generally poor mainly because of the proliferation of counterfeit stoves on the market. The system is largely unregulated and the household biomass stoves standard, which is currently the main supporting institution is detached from local innovators’ focus and user habits and preferences, thus raising questions on the usefulness of standardised stove testing processes. Results also reveal how indigenous knowledge (informal structures) applied in some of the stove making and use processes (at firm and user levels respectively) is excluded from knowledge generation and exchange mechanisms at network and system levels, and how this exclusion impedes the generation of appropriate technologies. Relatedly, results show how actors perceive innovation and stove quality differently, and how the divergent perceptions (technological frames) work to slow progress of improved cookstove generation, diffusion and adoption in Uganda. Further, limited autonomy caused by donor dependence for survival coupled with weak legitimacy among local manufacturers weaken the voice of formal networks, which inhibits learning and knowledge exchange. In an effort to address the interaction gaps, some actors like networks use social media for research and information dissemination, albeit with challenges. R&D financing schemes boosted stove generation and dissemination in the short run but caused retrogression in the long term especially at firm level and are largely not adapted to the needs of the system. Results above represent a nascent system in formative stage. However, the improved cookstove TIS has been growing for about 35 years now, which points more to the system being stunted than young. The factors responsible for this stunted growth are embedded in the weak and misaligned structure, which affects fulfilment of the key processes. The study recommends restructuring of both the institutions and networks in order to absorb the current shocks and also create better structuration for progressive development of improved cookstove TIS in Uganda. This restructuring is specifically about aligning the improved cookstove standard to the needs of the system as well as building new necessary institutions such as supporting policy, and integrating the dominant informal institutions with formal ones to generate appropriate technologies. The restructuring also speaks about the reorganisation of networks to overcome dependency and legitimacy challenges.

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