Abstract:
This paper explores the intersection of women’s economic empowerment (WEE), care work and clean energy, with a particular focus on low and middle-income countries (LMICs). It begins by providing a conceptual framework which illustrates that initiatives addressing WEE, care work and clean energy are mutually reinforcing, even mutually dependent, constituting a virtuous circle. It then goes on to map the available research and evidence linking these issues, before unpacking the role of social norms in determining women’s ability to equally shape and benefit from the clean energy transition. It concludes by identifying areas for future work and research for actors interested in promoting a “triple win”: where clean energy access is improved, WEE is enhanced, and women’s heavy and unequal responsibility for care work is reduced and redistributed.
