Empowerment Pathways: Assessing the Impact of Small-Scale Biogas Technology on Rural Women in Sub-Saharan Africa

Klára Kohoutová

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

This thesis evaluated how small-scale biogas technology contributes to rural women’s empowerment in Sub-Saharan Africa. By utilizing a comprehensive literature review, the study synthesized secondary sources about the economic, social, environmental, and health benefits of biogas technology. Additionally, it assessed the benefits’ contribution to women’s empowerment within the region by utilizing Kabeer’s women’s empowerment framework and identifying empowerment pathways of biogas. The findings indicated that small-scale biogas technology had shown potential to empower rural women through various benefits. Economically, biogas adoption provided financial savings, income generation opportunities, and increased agricultural production, leading to enhanced decision-making power and long-term poverty mitigation. From a health perspective, benefits included improved pollution and waste management practices, and deforestation mitigation, leading to awareness about sustainable practices and their promotion, resulting in greenhouse gas reduction and sustainable management of natural resources. Additional, biogas technology decreased indoor air pollution, improved food safety, prevented injuries, and subsequently, improved community health outcomes. Socially, biogas technology facilitated time and labour savings, increased access to education, fostered more equal household and community relationships, enhanced skills and knowledge, and increased decision-making power, ultimately promoting the adoption of sustainable cooking practices and enhancing women’s status within communities. Additionally, the study highlight potential obstacles of biogas technology adoption, including economic, operational, and maintenace challenges, energy stacking, cooking preferences, intra-household gender dynamics, and potential employment loss. Altogether, the thesis contributes to understanding the role of renewable energy in promoting gender equality and empowerment.

Keywords

renewable energy source, gender equality, bioenergy, poverty, digester, bio-slurry

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 20. 4. 2024

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 29. 5. 2024
• Supervisor: Ing. Jana Mazancová, Ph.D.
• Reader: Rudolfína Duxová, Mgr. Mgr.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Bachelor programme:
International Cooperation in Agricultural and Rural Development