Page 50 - “GREENING” THE CONTENT IN CXC® SYLLABUSES

E-LEARNING MODULES AND LEARNING GUIDE FOR TEACHERS

Objective 3: Outline the role of gender in renewable energy use.

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Gender issues in Renewable Energy (RE)

Women and men benefit from energy services differently.

Improved access to modern and sustainable energy services

potentially can enhance women’s social and economic
situation. In many rural areas, women and girls are generally

responsible for collecting firewood for cooking and fetching

water for domestic purposes. In some cases, they must walk for

long distances to collect firewood and water. This situation
often hinders them from accessing educational opportunities and livelihood enhancing activities,

social interactions, and safety. Also, indoor air pollution resulting from using traditional cook-

stoves has a greater impact on women and children than on men. The lack of electricity in some

remote villages also affects the social and economic development within these villages.

This therefore means that the deployment of renewable energy in areas that do not have access
to modern energy services such as electricity and clean cooking fuels can help women to

overcome some of the social and economic issues they face. With access to electricity, women

and girls can benefit from better health care, education, and potable water. They can engage in

productive activities such as craft making in the evenings which will benefit them economically.
Other issues include:

• ack of skills and training for women; and
• Women seen as home care workers; and

• Being paid less for the same job being done by a man;

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