Faculty Lecture Series: Gendered Energy Relations at the Crossroads of Asia

Title: Gendered Energy Relations at the Crossroads of Asia: Electrification, Empowerment, and Mixed Outcomes in Northeastern Afghanistan Jakub Polansky Doctoral Researcher, University of Sussex Abstract This study analyzes the socio-economic impact of electrification with special attention to gender dynamics using evidence from the Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan. We employ survey data and stakeholder interviews to evaluate changes in education, health, and economic opportunities. We find that women in grid-supplied communities are on average 27% more literate and complete more years of schooling compared to women in off-grid communities. Households in grid-supplied communities report a lower incidence of diseases, lower child mortality, improved access to ante-natal care, and higher vaccination rates, but they also endure a higher incidence of respiratory diseases due to cooking indoors. We show that switching from off-grid to grid-supplied electricity would allow households to power either 4,200 hours of