A Gender Approach to the Promotion of Productive Uses of Electricity

Abstract

Interventions promoting productive use of electricity (PUE) without gender approaches are more likely to benefit men than women. Men typically own more businesses and operate in a wider range of more productive, electricity‑intensive activities. Gender approaches improve the effectiveness of PUE projects, benefiting both men and women as productive electricity users and increasing electricity suppliers’ financial sustainability. Policy recommendations include setting gender goals, selecting activities to create or upgrade with improved energy supply, and targeting the different constraints men and women face to benefit from PUE.