This study analyzes the gendered impacts of electrification in Shughnan District, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan. It reveals that grid-connected communities experience 27% higher female literacy rates and nearly six-times higher household incomes. Electrification reduces time spent collecting biomass fuel by up to 5 hours, allowing men to spend more time with their children and assist with household tasks, but does not enhance women’s mobility or decision-making. The authors conclude that broader structural and institutional factors play a more significant role in shaping social and economic outcomes than access to electricity alone.
Blog » Gendered Energy Relations at the Crossroads of Asia: Electrification, Empowerment, and Mixed Outcomes in Northeastern Afghanistan (2021)
Gendered Energy Relations at the Crossroads of Asia: Electrification, Empowerment, and Mixed Outcomes in Northeastern Afghanistan (2021)
This study analyzes the gendered impacts of electrification in Shughnan District, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan. It reveals that grid-connected communities experience 27% higher female literacy rates and nearly six-times higher household incomes. Electrification reduces time spent collecting biomass fuel by up to 5 hours, allowing men to spend more time with their children and assist with household tasks, but does not enhance women’s mobility or decision-making. The authors conclude that broader structural and institutional factors play a more significant role in shaping social and economic outcomes than access to electricity alone.