Electricity, a Brighter Future for Women? Rural electrification and empowerment of women in Moçambique

Abstract

In this paper we study the linkage between rural electrification and empowerment of women in Moçambique. The analysis is divided into two parts, one quantitative part using econometrics, and one qualitative field study where we interviewed women in rural areas in Moçambique. We look at three different aspects of empowerment: Justification, Decision-making and Education. We use a data set from Measure DHS and utilize a probit model and find that electricity has a positive effect on Justification and Education. Decision-making however is only significant for women below age 30, and is shown to be negatively affected by access to electricity. We complement the quantitative analysis with interviews with twelve Moçambican women in three different villages. Their responses show how they perceive electricity, how it affects their daily life, and how those benefits differ from their husbands’. Rural electrification can have great benefits for everyone, but we show that women and girls in particular benefit to a greater extent.