Fiona Lambe - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Fiona Lambe
She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation
Energy Research & Social Science, 2021
An estimated 2.7 billion people globally still rely on traditional biomass – wood, charcoal, anim... more An estimated 2.7 billion people globally still rely on traditional biomass – wood, charcoal, animal waste and agricultural residues – as their primary energy source, particularly for cooking. These fuels are typically burned inefficiently, either over a threestone fire or in simple stoves, and in poorly ventilated spaces. Exposure to the resulting smoke greatly increases the risk of acute respiratory infections, leading to an estimated 1.6 million deaths per year.
From Theory to Practice of Change : Lessons from SNV’s Improved Cookstoves and Fuel Projects in C... more From Theory to Practice of Change : Lessons from SNV’s Improved Cookstoves and Fuel Projects in Cambodia, Kenya, Nepal and Rwanda
Bringing clean, safe, affordable cooking energy to households across Africa : an agenda for action
The SEI working paper series aims to expand and accelerate the availability of our research, stim... more The SEI working paper series aims to expand and accelerate the availability of our research, stimulate discussion, and elicit feedback. SEI working papers are work in progress and typically contain preliminary research, analysis, findings, and recommendations. Many SEI working papers are drafts that will be subsequently revised for a refereed journal or book. Other papers share timely and innovative knowledge that we consider valuable and policy-relevant, but which may not be intended for later publication.
A shift to advanced cookstoves can bring significant health and environmental benefits, but only ... more A shift to advanced cookstoves can bring significant health and environmental benefits, but only with proper and consistent use. Yet empirical evidence of what drives households to adopt advanced cooking technologies is limited. We use case studies in peri-urban Kiambu County, Kenya, and urban Lusaka, Zambia, to examine what drives households to adopt clean stoves for most or all of their cooking needs, and to stick with those stoves for the long term. We use a service design methodology to build “user journeys” that illustrate the cook’s experience with the technology, from the point of hearing about it, to purchasing it, learning to use it, and making it part of daily routine. We find that the main motivating factors for buying a stove were the prospect of saving money and/or fuel, added convenience, and the aesthetic and aspirational appeal of the stove. However, those factors may not continue to motivate people as they begin to use the stove. At that point, what matters most is ...
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 2021
We present novel co-created transdisciplinary research that uses arts and humanities methods to e... more We present novel co-created transdisciplinary research that uses arts and humanities methods to explore air pollution in an informal settlement (Mukuru) in Nairobi, Kenya. Air pollution is a well-documented major human health issue, but despite many air pollution reduction interventions designed to improve health, these are frequently ineffective. Often this is because they fail to account for local knowledge, cultural practices and priorities of the intended recipients. Designing solutions therefore requires in-depth exploration of relevant issues with stakeholders. Researchers worked collaboratively with local residents to develop a range of methods to explore understandings of air pollution including interviews, storytelling, participatory mapping and theatre. Together, we uncovered contrasting definitions of air pollution, differing perceptions of who was responsible for enacting solutions, and overall a view that air pollution cannot be seen in isolation from the other issues f...
This SEI report outlines issues that stakeholders in water, sanitation and energy sectors believe... more This SEI report outlines issues that stakeholders in water, sanitation and energy sectors believe are holding back wider uptake of gridless technologies that have potential to extend access to needed services worldwide.
Human behaviour change is necessary to meet targets set by the Paris Agreement to mitigate climat... more Human behaviour change is necessary to meet targets set by the Paris Agreement to mitigate climate change. Restrictions and regulations put in place globally to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 during 2020 have had a substantial impact on everyday life, including many carbon-intensive behaviours such as transportation. Changes to transportation behaviour may reduce carbon emissions. Behaviour change theory can offer perspective on the drivers and influences of behaviour and shape recommendations for how policy-makers can capitalise on any observed behaviour changes that may mitigate climate change. For this commentary, we aimed to describe changes in data relating to transportation behavioursrelating to working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic across the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK. We display these identified changes in a concept map, suggesting links between the changes in behaviour and levels of carbon emissions. We consider these changes in relation to a comprehensive an...
Energy Research & Social Science, 2020
Key messages • A combination of service design methods, behavioural insights and social-ecologica... more Key messages • A combination of service design methods, behavioural insights and social-ecological systems thinking has proven helpful in guiding the design of more successful cleancookstove interventions • By combining service design methods with quantitative methods, researchers can generate more robust and reliable data on cookstove usage and adoption over time. • In our study, we identified two main user archetypes: those motivated by convenience, and those motivated by saving money. We suggest that identifying such archetypes early on can help cookstove programme implementers to tailor their efforts to meet the different needs of key user types • By mapping the roles and capacities of key stakeholders within the Kenyan cookstove sector in relation to the user's experience of the advanced biomass cookstove and fuel, we identified critical gaps in the system and suggest concrete measures for addressing these.
Energy Research & Social Science, 2020
(2020) Do we need better behaved cooks? Reviewing behavioural change strategies for improving the... more (2020) Do we need better behaved cooks? Reviewing behavioural change strategies for improving the sustainability and effectiveness of cookstove programs. Energy Research and Social Science, 70. a101788.
Environmental Research Letters, 2020
Kenya has experienced a decade of relative prosperity with consistent economic growth and minimal... more Kenya has experienced a decade of relative prosperity with consistent economic growth and minimal political tension. GDP is growing by 3% annually and poverty rates are declining. Despite these gains, Kenya still has a lot of ground to cover to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. SDG7, which aims to ‘Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all’, exemplifies both Kenya’s achievements and the challenges that remain. Access to grid-based electricity and LPG have grown rapidly. However, over 90% of Kenyans still rely on polluting fuels like wood, charcoal and/or kerosene for some or all of their cooking needs. Substantial effort is needed to ensure all Kenyans have access to clean cooking options by 2030. We present the results of a pilot study in which gasifier-based pellet stoves were introduced in 150 peri-urban households. The stoves include an internal fan that improves combustion efficiency and reduces emissions by 90%–99% rel...
Energy Research & Social Science, 2019
This paper contributes to the literature on household energy transitions by highlighting the case... more This paper contributes to the literature on household energy transitions by highlighting the case of household cooking in urban Lusaka, Zambia. Through 32 targeted sector expert and household level interviews, we use the "Energy Cultures Framework" to identify normative, material and practice related determinants of the dominant cooking culture(s). We find that cooking behaviour is determined and self-reinforced through everyday social interactions, such as expectations of food taste, the practice of purchasing charcoal, and the ability to undertake daily chores in combination with cooking. The current dominant cooking culture(s) meets little resistance but is reinforced by external factors such as national policy regulation, lack for attractive alternative technologies and accessible charcoal markets. We also explore what might drive change of the dominant cooking culture(s) and find that perceptions vary notably between households and sector experts. While households generally recognise that a change in cooking culture is complex to bring about-as it is determined by a multitude of intertwined "softer" factors-sector experts consistently highlighted "harder" determinants of cooking behaviour such as fuel availability, fuel price and the cost of alternatives as the main triggers of change. This mismatch in understanding of how change is enabled about suggests that top-led interventions to diversify cooking behaviour have much to gain from further considering how norms, practices and material culture determine dominant energy culture(s) in a society.
She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation
Energy Research & Social Science, 2021
An estimated 2.7 billion people globally still rely on traditional biomass – wood, charcoal, anim... more An estimated 2.7 billion people globally still rely on traditional biomass – wood, charcoal, animal waste and agricultural residues – as their primary energy source, particularly for cooking. These fuels are typically burned inefficiently, either over a threestone fire or in simple stoves, and in poorly ventilated spaces. Exposure to the resulting smoke greatly increases the risk of acute respiratory infections, leading to an estimated 1.6 million deaths per year.
From Theory to Practice of Change : Lessons from SNV’s Improved Cookstoves and Fuel Projects in C... more From Theory to Practice of Change : Lessons from SNV’s Improved Cookstoves and Fuel Projects in Cambodia, Kenya, Nepal and Rwanda
Bringing clean, safe, affordable cooking energy to households across Africa : an agenda for action
The SEI working paper series aims to expand and accelerate the availability of our research, stim... more The SEI working paper series aims to expand and accelerate the availability of our research, stimulate discussion, and elicit feedback. SEI working papers are work in progress and typically contain preliminary research, analysis, findings, and recommendations. Many SEI working papers are drafts that will be subsequently revised for a refereed journal or book. Other papers share timely and innovative knowledge that we consider valuable and policy-relevant, but which may not be intended for later publication.
A shift to advanced cookstoves can bring significant health and environmental benefits, but only ... more A shift to advanced cookstoves can bring significant health and environmental benefits, but only with proper and consistent use. Yet empirical evidence of what drives households to adopt advanced cooking technologies is limited. We use case studies in peri-urban Kiambu County, Kenya, and urban Lusaka, Zambia, to examine what drives households to adopt clean stoves for most or all of their cooking needs, and to stick with those stoves for the long term. We use a service design methodology to build “user journeys” that illustrate the cook’s experience with the technology, from the point of hearing about it, to purchasing it, learning to use it, and making it part of daily routine. We find that the main motivating factors for buying a stove were the prospect of saving money and/or fuel, added convenience, and the aesthetic and aspirational appeal of the stove. However, those factors may not continue to motivate people as they begin to use the stove. At that point, what matters most is ...
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 2021
We present novel co-created transdisciplinary research that uses arts and humanities methods to e... more We present novel co-created transdisciplinary research that uses arts and humanities methods to explore air pollution in an informal settlement (Mukuru) in Nairobi, Kenya. Air pollution is a well-documented major human health issue, but despite many air pollution reduction interventions designed to improve health, these are frequently ineffective. Often this is because they fail to account for local knowledge, cultural practices and priorities of the intended recipients. Designing solutions therefore requires in-depth exploration of relevant issues with stakeholders. Researchers worked collaboratively with local residents to develop a range of methods to explore understandings of air pollution including interviews, storytelling, participatory mapping and theatre. Together, we uncovered contrasting definitions of air pollution, differing perceptions of who was responsible for enacting solutions, and overall a view that air pollution cannot be seen in isolation from the other issues f...
This SEI report outlines issues that stakeholders in water, sanitation and energy sectors believe... more This SEI report outlines issues that stakeholders in water, sanitation and energy sectors believe are holding back wider uptake of gridless technologies that have potential to extend access to needed services worldwide.
Human behaviour change is necessary to meet targets set by the Paris Agreement to mitigate climat... more Human behaviour change is necessary to meet targets set by the Paris Agreement to mitigate climate change. Restrictions and regulations put in place globally to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 during 2020 have had a substantial impact on everyday life, including many carbon-intensive behaviours such as transportation. Changes to transportation behaviour may reduce carbon emissions. Behaviour change theory can offer perspective on the drivers and influences of behaviour and shape recommendations for how policy-makers can capitalise on any observed behaviour changes that may mitigate climate change. For this commentary, we aimed to describe changes in data relating to transportation behavioursrelating to working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic across the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK. We display these identified changes in a concept map, suggesting links between the changes in behaviour and levels of carbon emissions. We consider these changes in relation to a comprehensive an...
Energy Research & Social Science, 2020
Key messages • A combination of service design methods, behavioural insights and social-ecologica... more Key messages • A combination of service design methods, behavioural insights and social-ecological systems thinking has proven helpful in guiding the design of more successful cleancookstove interventions • By combining service design methods with quantitative methods, researchers can generate more robust and reliable data on cookstove usage and adoption over time. • In our study, we identified two main user archetypes: those motivated by convenience, and those motivated by saving money. We suggest that identifying such archetypes early on can help cookstove programme implementers to tailor their efforts to meet the different needs of key user types • By mapping the roles and capacities of key stakeholders within the Kenyan cookstove sector in relation to the user's experience of the advanced biomass cookstove and fuel, we identified critical gaps in the system and suggest concrete measures for addressing these.
Energy Research & Social Science, 2020
(2020) Do we need better behaved cooks? Reviewing behavioural change strategies for improving the... more (2020) Do we need better behaved cooks? Reviewing behavioural change strategies for improving the sustainability and effectiveness of cookstove programs. Energy Research and Social Science, 70. a101788.
Environmental Research Letters, 2020
Kenya has experienced a decade of relative prosperity with consistent economic growth and minimal... more Kenya has experienced a decade of relative prosperity with consistent economic growth and minimal political tension. GDP is growing by 3% annually and poverty rates are declining. Despite these gains, Kenya still has a lot of ground to cover to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. SDG7, which aims to ‘Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all’, exemplifies both Kenya’s achievements and the challenges that remain. Access to grid-based electricity and LPG have grown rapidly. However, over 90% of Kenyans still rely on polluting fuels like wood, charcoal and/or kerosene for some or all of their cooking needs. Substantial effort is needed to ensure all Kenyans have access to clean cooking options by 2030. We present the results of a pilot study in which gasifier-based pellet stoves were introduced in 150 peri-urban households. The stoves include an internal fan that improves combustion efficiency and reduces emissions by 90%–99% rel...
Energy Research & Social Science, 2019
This paper contributes to the literature on household energy transitions by highlighting the case... more This paper contributes to the literature on household energy transitions by highlighting the case of household cooking in urban Lusaka, Zambia. Through 32 targeted sector expert and household level interviews, we use the "Energy Cultures Framework" to identify normative, material and practice related determinants of the dominant cooking culture(s). We find that cooking behaviour is determined and self-reinforced through everyday social interactions, such as expectations of food taste, the practice of purchasing charcoal, and the ability to undertake daily chores in combination with cooking. The current dominant cooking culture(s) meets little resistance but is reinforced by external factors such as national policy regulation, lack for attractive alternative technologies and accessible charcoal markets. We also explore what might drive change of the dominant cooking culture(s) and find that perceptions vary notably between households and sector experts. While households generally recognise that a change in cooking culture is complex to bring about-as it is determined by a multitude of intertwined "softer" factors-sector experts consistently highlighted "harder" determinants of cooking behaviour such as fuel availability, fuel price and the cost of alternatives as the main triggers of change. This mismatch in understanding of how change is enabled about suggests that top-led interventions to diversify cooking behaviour have much to gain from further considering how norms, practices and material culture determine dominant energy culture(s) in a society.