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Climate change and the ongoing energy transition can increase energy poverty rates. To date, the main tool employed to alleviate energy poverty has involved income transfers to vulnerable households. However, measures that seek to improve a home's energy efficiency have recently gained increasing relevance. In this study we assess the effectiveness of these two types of policy, assuming universal coverage and optimal behaviour. Results points that income transfers and energy efficiency measures have the potential to decrease the proportion of households in energy poverty; however, the magnitude of their respective effects differs greatly. The average impact of energy efficiency measures provides for a greater reduction in energy poverty rates than income transfer policies. Although the greatest reduction in energy poverty is obtained by combining both measures, this combination of tools leads to overlapping effects with income transfers making only a marginal contribution once total retrofit have been implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy efficiency is vital for energy transitions, and energy-poor, vulnerable, and hard-to-reach groups are at risk of being left behind. In this context, local middle actors have been suggested as partners in deploying targeted energy support. Nevertheless, scarce research has engaged with them to assess if they are willing and capable of contributing, if they can reach households, and if they have unmet needs. In this research, we draw on the mapping of 198 local organizations and 34 semi-structured interviews conducted after deploying a pilot energy support service in Setúbal, Portugal. Interviews characterized the organizations and target audiences, assessed energy literacy, explored potential collaborative roles, and recognized drivers, barriers, and solutions. Results show that most organizations are willing to disseminate activities, forward citizens, facilitate contacts, co-organize events, and participate in training. Half can identify vulnerable families for proactive support. Drivers include environmental concerns, community participation, and social support. However, few seem able to conduct energy support, hire/redirect staff, or participate in coordination. Scarce human resources, lack of time, other priorities, and financing concerns severely constrain local organizations. This case study finds some potential for local organizations to act as intermediaries in energy support, building on their communication channels and trusted relationships to fulfill specific roles. However, they are often hard-to-reach themselves and burdened with demanding activities. Thus, we suggest that fostering collaborations with local organizations is challenging but possible. It requires dedicated funding, time, and resources to empower, capacitate, and reward middle actors for their contributions in delivering energy support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Home environments suffered a range of stressors during COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines the impact of these stressors on children's well-being by households' conditions. Participants included main caregivers (N = 615) with a child under the age of 3 in a developing Latin-American country. We use multivariate analysis to explore associations between these shocks, the childrearing environment, and children's well-being. We find that households with lower education and recipients of government assistance were more exposed to negative shocks linked to COVID-19. However, the most educated households were more likely to face an increased burden of childcare. Exposure to negative shocks was associated with a deterioration in the emotional well-being of adults, a higher prevalence of intra-family violence, and behavioral changes in children. Households that reported more time spent caring for children, as well as difficulties in combining care and work, showed higher levels of parental depression and worse indicators of parenting quality. We observe a drop in the frequency of parental involvement in didactic and socializing activities with their children, and a poorer mental health status for the main caregiver (mostly mothers). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the determinants of why low-income households in Ireland abandon energy efficiency retrofit applications using administrative data from a targeted energy efficiency grant. By applying for the scheme, the applicants overcome any financial barriers for undertaking retrofits and demonstrate their willingness to improve the energy efficiency of their dwellings. Hence this study contributes to the scarce literature on non-financial barriers preventing low-income households from undertaking energy efficiency retrofits. Contrary to previous findings, we find that the higher the number of retrofits to be implemented, the lower the probability of households abandoning their applications. We also find that planning to undertake retrofits such as ventilation, which can significantly improve the health and safety standards of the dwelling, is associated with a higher probability of abandonment. Both findings indicate the presence of key behavioural and informational barriers which prevent low-income households from fully comprehending the purpose or benefits of proposed energy efficient retrofits. Our findings also suggest that higher grant expenditure on dwellings with poor pre-works energy efficiency rating and on retrofits such as attic insulation and heating system upgrades may have the highest energy efficiency improvements per unit of expenditure. Within the constraints of limited budgets for retrofit grant supports, this research can inform the redesign of grant schemes to achieve the greatest aggregate improvements in residential building energy efficiency.

This study was conducted in rural communities of Lokka Abaya district, Sidama zone, southern Ethiopia to assess vulnerability status of men and women households to climate-induced shocks and stress. This article is based on household survey, focus group discussion and key informant interviews. A total of 258 smallholder farmers were selected from three villages using stratified random sampling. A combination of social, economic and environmental indicators was employed to develop the vulnerability index of each household head and estimate quantitatively that is vulnerability is estimated as a function of adaptive capacity, exposure and sensitivity of households. The results indicated that farmers had poor access to public services including access to affordable credit, market, health services and climate information. The survey revealed that droughts, floods, soil erosion, pests and diseases were climate-related challenges in the study area. Regarding vulnerability of households to climate variability, results indicated that around 8.5% and 18.2% of male- and female-headed households, respectively, were highly vulnerable whilst 41% and 45.5% of male- and female-headed households, respectively, were moderately vulnerable. The results confirmed that 37.7% and 27.3% of male- and female-headed households, respectively, were less vulnerable. The rest 12.8% men and 9% women were not vulnerable. Therefore, there is a need to enhance access to affordable credit, market, climate information, health, income diversification of farmers, soil and water conservation and afforestation of hilly areas if farmers need to be climate resilient.

The poor and vulnerable people are the most affected in any disaster and find recovery extremely challenging. After the 2015 Nepal earthquake, the need for inclusive and targeted policy provisions and socio-technical facilitation was well identified. Nepal's post-earthquake housing reconstruction is world's largest owner driven reconstruction program under which nearly 700,000 houses are being constructed. This paper examines policies, and implementation mechanisms for ensuring social inclusion in this post-earthquake housing reconstruction process in Nepal, specifically examining provisions and delivery mechanisms for finance, land, design and technology for addressing recovery needs of the most vulnerable houseowners in terms of achievements, effectiveness, and challenges of implementation. The paper uses mixed methodology and is informed by the primary survey data of 26,912 houseowners in eight municipalities of the Gorkha district and overall reconstruction data from National Reconstruction Authority and other relevant sources of the Government of Nepal. Data is analysed and interpreted to gain insights on the specific issues of the poor and vulnerable. Top-up grant assistance and subsidized loan scheme have not yet benefited the vulnerable households despite the policy provisions. At the same time, housing reconstruction process in Nepal has helped a significant number of landless households get ownership of homestead land, which is a remarkable achievement. Shift in building typologies needs to be deliberated in context of affordability, sustainability and disaster risk reduction in the future. While policy provisions are the first step for the inclusion of the vulnerable, the desired outcome is difficult and challenging to achieve without enabling environment for their own agency and targeted socio-technical facilitation. Experience of post disaster housing reconstruction in Nepal strengthens our understanding of ‘owner driven reconstruction’ to make it more inclusive.

In an attempt to minimise the negative economic impacts of COVID‐19 on vulnerable households the South African government allocated R50 billion in additional social assistance spending. The cash transfer package included a temporary increase in existing grants and introduced a new "Covid grant." We assess the chosen package and compare it with an initial proposal to increase the Child Support Grant (CSG). Coverage, cost and welfare effects are calculated to measure the relative impacts in each case. We find that while a significant increase in the CSG delivers resources most progressively, the addition of the COVID‐19 grant may potentially reach a much larger group of otherwise uncovered, vulnerable individuals. Critically, this extended coverage comes at a cost to the poorest households, via additional transfers to the upper income deciles. However, we identify several categories of vulnerable household groups which suggests that the workers most negatively affected by the pandemic are not necessarily those in the poorest households. The paper emphasises that social assistance to mitigate the consequences of COVID‐19 should not be viewed necessarily as a standard poverty reduction exercise, but rather as an attempt to mitigate COVID‐19‐related income shocks for the vulnerable who were most negatively affected by the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofortification of staple crops to combat micronutrient deficiencies is gaining global recognition. Projects promoting biofortified food crops use intensive agriculture-nutrition education and extension activities to increase adoption of such crops. This study examines the effect of such programs on the adoption and diffusion of orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP). It finds that intensive agriculture-nutrition education and extension programs adopted by some of the biofortification projects increases the adoption and diffusion of OFSP. Specifically, participation in mother-to-mother nutrition support clubs and nutrition-focused health talks affect its adoption and diffusion, but with varying degrees of importance. The paper discusses the implications of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key aspect of the design of specific tariff structures is to identify and characterize homogeneous electricity consumption profiles. Recent research in residential electricity demand has explored load profile segmentation via cluster analysis combined with descriptive data from the dwelling and occupants, which has partly explained electricity load patterns and their underlying drivers but has failed to investigate any consumption heterogeneity among similar households. Thus, the aim of this paper is to reverse this approach and investigate the extent that households with similar characteristics have different electricity consumption patterns. This study combines population-based register data with hourly electricity consumption data for a sample of 67 Danish households. First, a homogenous household group is selected based on several indicators that signal vulnerability. The specific group under investigation is single-person, older, low-income households in detached housing. Second, K-means clustering is used to identify similarities and differences in consumption patterns. The results indicate four distinct vulnerable household profiles characterized by different start and end times of peak and off-peak times, peak intensities, and overall consumption, which vary across seasons. These profiles are discussed concerning the performance of everyday practices and the design of demand-side management strategies targeted at vulnerable households.

• Energy Communities analysis and review in Europe and, more specifically, in Spain. • Promoting energy poverty reduction and cooperation through Energy Communities. • Real case study focused on reducing energy poverty in the city of Getafe (Spain). • Selection of public buildings to implement energy community in two neighborhoods. • Significant electricity bill reductions for energy poverty households. Advancements in renewable energy technologies, a growing awareness of the need for sustainable energy solutions, and the emergence of new business models in the energy sector, have contributed to the growth of Energy Communities. Public entities can find in energy communities today an opportunity to tackle energy poverty, to increase the cooperation among citizens and to empower them to be a more active player within the energy sector. This paper analyzes energy communities in Europe and focuses specifically on Spain; considering the three beneficial aspects previously mentioned. It aims to obtain ground truth about the applications of these new citizens' arrangements. A citizen-led initiative at the city of Getafe (Madrid, Spain) is included and discussed in detail. This case study focused on reducing energy poverty of its participants. An energy community was designed and implemented as a collective PV solar self-consumption infrastructure. The roofs of various public buildings in the two case study neighborhoods were selected for locating the PV installations. Real metered data were used to evaluate the solution. A public building was selected for the energy community, considering generation on roof and dwellings proximity. The results provided that out of the 77% PV generations could be used to contribute to the demand of 100 residences; while the resulting 23% would provide approximately 60% of the energy demand of the public building. The setting up of the Energy Community not only had the technical part but also included workshops seminars and information sessions, to ensure that people prone to benefit and maximize its impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy poverty—involving a combination of factors, such as low household incomes, high energy prices, and low levels of residential energy efficiency—is identified as a complex and increasing issue affecting people’s physical health, well-being, and social inclusion. Even though a shared identification of energy poverty is not yet agreed, this phenomenon has been recognized as an EU priority. Several EU legislative documents address the topic, trying to outline its boundaries and provide a framework for mitigative actions. At the same time, different research and demonstration projects have been funded to experiment and evaluate innovative approaches, strategies, and solutions and to promote good practices at national, regional, and local levels. This review paper presents some results of the “ZOOM” project (“Energy zoning for urban systems. Models and relations for the built environment”, funded by University of Bologna in the framework of Alma Idea 2017−ongoing), proposing a critical overview of the EU projects directly or indirectly connected to energy poverty—funded under the 7th Framework Program (FP7) and under Horizon 2020 Program (H2020). The aim of such a review is to highlight the main objectives, trends, and related topics of ongoing and concluded projects addressing energy poverty, in order to identify gaps and open issues and to understand the possible orientation and placement of this subject in the future EU research and innovation framework project, Horizon Europe.

India ranks 66th of 88 countries in the Global Hunger Index and has a quarter of the world's hungry. Food security status of 377 million inhabitants of India's urban areas, of which one-fourth live in extreme poverty, is poorly documented. The purpose of this study was to determine (a) the extent of food insecurity among households in urban slums, (b) to quantitatively assess their subjective experiences related to food insecurity and (c) to identify sub-groups among the urban poor that are vulnerable to food insecurity. A cross-sectional, interviewer-administered survey of adult female respondents from 283 households, selected using two-stage cluster sampling, was conducted in slums across three municipal wards in the city of Mumbai. Food insecurity, as measured by the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), was found in a large number of households in the urban slums of Mumbai; 59.7 % ( n = 169) households were categorized as severely food-insecure, 16.6 % ( n = 47) as mildly to moderately food-insecure, and 23.7 % ( n = 67) as food-secure. Further analysis revealed that severe food insecurity was significantly associated with lower monthly household income and other socioeconomic status measures such as lower household monthly per capita income, lower rank in the standard of living index (SLI) and less monthly per capita expense on food items. Households where the woman was the primary income-earner and contributed the largest share to the monthly household income, and was older, less educated, with less media use or access were more likely to experience severe food insecurity. Although corrective steps at the household level such as livelihood security schemes and income generation programs are necessary, they will not be sufficient to eliminate this problem; state intervention is required in order to assure food security for the urban poor. The Government of India has drafted a Food Security Bill; but the criteria for determining which households are vulnerable and deserving are still being debated. The findings of this study highlight the urgency of corrective action and also provide pointers for the identification of vulnerable or priority sub-groups. Food security policies and programs have to be implemented immediately and effectively in order to ensure that subsidies and food items are allocated to the households of the vulnerable urban poor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzes the effects of the difficult economic times and the current global economic crisis on the well-being of children and young people in Macedonia. It also tends to provide an assessment of the vulnerability of those families most at risk in difficult economic times. Hence, the analysis is focused on three important aspects: living standards among households, as well as education and health of children and young people during the period between 2008 and 2009. The paper uses the research data and results undertaken within the UNICEF study on the Children and Young people in difficult economic times (2009). The study was focused on more vulnerable households in the country, by analyzing equivalent number of households among four ethnic communities, i.e. Macedonians, Albanians, Turks and Roma. The paper identifies that the economic crisis has increased the previous difficult living conditions among the most vulnerable households in Macedonia. This had negative effect on households possibilities to provide their children with regular and unrestricted access to basic needs in relation to education and health. The paper also outlines that the social protection scheme in Macedonia is not adequately framed to provide for increased needs of vulnerable population during times of economic constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review sets out to examine the published literature, exploring ways in which contact opportunities associated with cash transfers might help to identify vulnerable households and link them with social welfare services. Social welfare is a very broad construct, ranging from formalized social work provision to an array of service-type encounters, which could fall under the wide umbrella of social welfare, legal provision, family support services, child protective services and alternative care. A systematic review of published papers on cash transfer and social welfare generated 146 studies that were hand-sorted according to a series of inclusion criteria. These required availability of data, design competence and presence of a control group, from low/middle-income countries, cash transfers rather than other transfer types, accessible in the published literature in English reporting on developmental transfers as opposed to emergency transfers. Geographic and provision criteria were reached by 37 studies and only 12 of these included empirical data. Nine were evaluation studies, two used secondary analysis of existing data to explore childbearing and one presented a study synthesis. The majority emanated from South America (only one from South Africa). Two of the 12 were non-conditional pensions (Brazil and South Africa). The remainder were conditional transfers. The review showed that there is a lack of clearly identified, well-controlled, systematic studies from which to glean a sound evidence base on social welfare and cash transfer to guide policy. Studies reporting on nutritional status/child growth found positive effects of cash transfers (n = 6). Children benefiting from the programmes were healthier than those who were not enrolled in the programmes. Studies recorded positive effects of cash transfers on migration outcomes, psychological outcomes, preventative health-care participation, some health outcomes and school-related outcomes such as improved attendance, enhanced enrolment, reduced dropout and earlier enrolment. Cash transfers improved household consumption and expenditures (more spent on children's clothing, education and food - better quality food) to benefit children of the household. Programmes decreased or had no impact on fertility in Mexico, Nicaragua and Turkey. There were some increases in Honduras, which may or may not be related to the programme. No evaluations of cash transfer schemes reported on direct social welfare provision, legal and protective service access and provision. Grandparent residence and reductions in child labour were associated with cash transfers. In countries where there is a lack of traditional provision in terms of social work, there is a large gap in the provision of social support in general, including cash transfer schemes. The growing literature has shown the need for integration of social welfare into existing provision - be it the location of social welfare in general practice or the combining of government support through non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community-based projects. The clear message is that stand-alone provision may, in itself, be a barrier to access. Studies should move beyond access to services to explore the implications of service provision for health and welfare gains. This review of studies shows multiple opportunities within existing cash transfer provision for social welfare contacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The recent economic downturn in Zimbabwe impoverished the majority of households. To assist vulnerable rural households improve their food security, the British Department for International Development implemented a seed relief program from 2003/2004 to 2005/2006 that emphasized recycling of maize open pollinated varieties (OPV). Using data collected from 597 households in six districts in 2006, this study assesses the effectiveness of the program in terms of its targeting of beneficiaries, the flow of information from participating NGOs to beneficiaries on the need to recycle the seeds, and the level of recycling done at the end of the program. The empirical results suggest that the targeting method participating NGOs use inadvertently excludes relatively vulnerable households while including large proportions of relatively well-endowed households in the program. The choice of varieties to distribute is guided more by the ecological adaptability of available commercial seeds and less by preferences of beneficiaries. Notwithstanding the fact that seed selection information is critical in encouraging beneficiaries to recycle distributed seed, not all of them received it. In conclusion, it may be stated that the program undoubtedly contributed to increased food productivity by vulnerable households but its overall effectiveness could have been enhanced through (i) the involvement of the beneficiaries in the choice of types of seed to be distributed, (ii) better targeting of beneficiaries, and (iii) improved information flow between NGOs and beneficiaries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In order to investigate the problem of energy/fuel poverty in Japan, we examined the knowledge, attitude, and practices towards energy usage of a random group of 447 college students in an international university in Japan. The majority of the students were living independently in private or shared accommodations, depended on portable heating/cooling appliances, and were billed directly for their electricity usage. The responses of 205 Japanese and 236 non-Japanese students to a detailed survey about energy consumption for daily living and its cost were collected. The examined variables included students' monthly income/allowance, energy bills, attributes of energy use including room temperature setting for cooling in summer and heating in winter, the students' awareness of energy fees, and their attitude towards energy use vs. saving in energy costs. The results indicate that energy bills were perceived as too high by most non-Japanese students as compared to Japanese students, while for both Japanese and non-Japanese students there was a positive correlation between monthly income/allowance and energy bills. The findings suggest that energy poverty is common among college students living independently in Japan, such that, in future research, they may be included in the category of vulnerable households with respect to energy poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key aspect of the design of specific tariff structures is to identify and characterize homogeneous electricity consumption profiles. Recent research in residential electricity demand has explored load profile segmentation via cluster analysis combined with descriptive data from the dwelling and occupants, which has partly explained electricity load patterns and their underlying drivers but has failed to investigate any consumption heterogeneity among similar households. Thus, the aim of this paper is to reverse this approach and investigate the extent that households with similar characteristics have different electricity consumption patterns. This study combines population-based register data with hourly electricity consumption data for a sample of 67 Danish households. First, a homogenous household group is selected based on several indicators that signal vulnerability. The specific group under investigation is single-person, older, low-income households in detached housing. Second, K-means clustering is used to identify similarities and differences in consumption patterns. The results indicate four distinct vulnerable household profiles characterized by different start and end times of peak and off-peak times, peak intensities, and overall consumption, which vary across seasons. These profiles are discussed concerning the performance of everyday practices and the design of demand-side management strategies targeted at vulnerable households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy poverty—involving a combination of factors, such as low household incomes, high energy prices, and low levels of residential energy efficiency—is identified as a complex and increasing issue affecting people's physical health, well-being, and social inclusion. Even though a shared identification of energy poverty is not yet agreed, this phenomenon has been recognized as an EU priority. Several EU legislative documents address the topic, trying to outline its boundaries and provide a framework for mitigative actions. At the same time, different research and demonstration projects have been funded to experiment and evaluate innovative approaches, strategies, and solutions and to promote good practices at national, regional, and local levels. This review paper presents some results of the "ZOOM" project ("Energy zoning for urban systems. Models and relations for the built environment", funded by University of Bologna in the framework of Alma Idea 2017–ongoing), proposing a critical overview of the EU projects directly or indirectly connected to energy poverty—funded under the 7th Framework Program (FP7) and under Horizon 2020 Program (H2020). The aim of such a review is to highlight the main objectives, trends, and related topics of ongoing and concluded projects addressing energy poverty, in order to identify gaps and open issues and to understand the possible orientation and placement of this subject in the future EU research and innovation framework project, Horizon Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]