A new research study by the Africa Economic Research Consortium (AERC) has established that public policy architects must move with speed to prioritise access to clean energy solutions, especially for women in rural areas.
The study, titled “Gendered Differences in Household Cooking Coping Strategies for the Russia-Ukraine War in Kenya,” 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.
Speaking during an AERC Side Event at the Supporting Pastoralism and Agriculture in Recurrent and Protracted Crises Programme (SPARC) and Jameel Observatory Joint Conference held at a Nairobi Hotel, AERC Executive Director Prof Victor Murinde underscored the urgent need to prioritise policy interventions to provide clean energy access for women in rural areas.
“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 said.
The AERC study findings, he said, 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.
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