Gender inequalities in asset ownership and energy access
The World Economic Forum’s recent Global Gender Gap report estimates that it will take 135.6 years to close the gender gap worldwide. The report proves there is still much work to be done in order to eliminate gender inequalities. Climate action interventions must acknowledge the existing gendered inequalities in order to be truly inclusive and most impactful.
The webinar speakers were Dr. Jiska de Groot from the ARUA Centre of Excellence on Climate and Development (ARUA-CD), hosted by the African Climate and Development Initiative at University of Cape Town, and A/Prof Abena D. Oduro from ACEIR’s Ghana research node, hosted by the Department of Economics, University of Ghana. In their presentations Jiska and Abena expanded on the gendered inequalities in asset ownership and energy access. Both speakers presented their topics and a short Q&A was held after each presentation.
Jiska explored women's entrepreneurship in the informal food sector, particularly the value created beyond financial gains. She offered a detailed focus on how access to resources affects how value is produced and reproduced in street food enterprises run by women.
Abena discussed how women and men in Ghana do not have the same set of rights over assets. Her presentation examined the pattern of land ownership rights among women and men, and investigated the relationship with land improvements.
Despite the different fields of research the presentations covered, their shared challenge was gender inequality. This shows how gender equality is central in almost any socio-economic and environmental practices. The webinar helped TSITICA team members and other participants learn about the complexities of gender inequalities in asset ownership and energy access. It also broadened the listeners' understanding on the multiple ways gendered inequalities intersect with economic and environmental challenges and society at large.
The webinar took place on 29 August 2021 and can be viewed online via our YouTube channel.