Impact of an improved cooking stove on the empowerment of women in rural areas in Southern Benin: case of the GUEV COOKER
RESUME
Description of the subject. Rural women use traditional cooking stove, which require them to spend a lot of time gathering wood and cooking. The use of these stoves reduces the possibility that women will be able to undertake an income-generating activity in order to be self-sufficient.
Objective. This study aims to assess the impact of the use of the improved cooking stove "GUEV COOKER" on the empowerment of women in southern Benin.
Methods. The study applies the experimental impact evaluation method known as randomized controlled trials and involved 531 women randomly assigned, with 266 beneficiary women and 265 non-beneficiary women in 5 municipalities in southern Benin, namely: Adjarra, Avrankou, Dangbo, Sakété, Ifangni. Given the small sample size, we conducted stratified random sampling based on three (3) variables for each group.
Results. The results obtained show that the treated group (women who have benefited from the Guev Cooker improved cooking stove) and control group (women who have not benefited from the Guev Cooker improved cooking stove) were well balanced before the intervention. The use of the improved stove "GUEV COOKER" positively influenced the general empowerment score of women in the study area.
Conclusion. The promotion of improved stoves that can be used by women in their households and in the various income-generating activities they undertake, as well as the promotion of women's employment in Benin, would facilitate their empowerment.
Victoire Modukpè K. C. Ogodja, Rose Fiamohe, Ambaliou O. Olounlade, Charlemagne Igue Babatoundé, Jacob Afouda Yabi
