A new research study by the Africa Economic Research Consortium (AERC) has established that public policy architects should swiftly prioritise access to clean energy solutions, especially for women in rural areas.
The study has established that the Russia-Ukraine war disrupted global supply chains, leading to higher fuel prices, as well as food and fertiliser prices, exacerbating existing gender disparities in Kenya.
AERC Executive Director Prof. Victor Murinde, said: “The persistence of high food and fertiliser prices continues to affect the well-being of many vulnerable households. This research shows that whereas these shocks often begin globally, in this case, the Russia-Ukraine war, their effects are deeply felt at the household level across Africa.”
Prof. Murinde says the AERC study findings highlight the reality that women, already heavily impacted by the economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, faced further burdens due to rising fuel prices.
“Ensuring that clean cooking energy is available and affordable, especially for women in rural areas, should be a policy priority,” Prof. Murinde said.
He noted that during economic shocks, women are more likely to switch to cheaper, traditional cooking fuels, despite their adverse effects. Switching to such fuels exposes women to spending significantly more time on fuel collection and meal preparation than men.
“The study uncovered significant gendered differences in cooking strategies. About two-thirds of the households that stopped using kerosene following the Russia-Ukraine war switched to LPG, a cleaner fuel. This was less in women than in men. Further, only about 8% of the households switched to firewood, and this was mainly in rural areas, with women being more likely to switch to this fuel than men,” Prof. Murinde said.
The study, published by AERC as a working paper, was undertaken by researchers comprising; Onyango Dickson Wandeda, Macharia Kenneth Kigundu, Ngui Dianah, and Maloi Lanoi.
The researchers investigated gendered cooking coping strategies in Kenya following the Russia-Ukraine war. It also examined gender differences in time savings related to these strategies. It assessed the effectiveness of a fuel subsidy introduced to mitigate the adverse effects of the war on households.