Socio-Economic Benefits and Challenges of Energy Efficient Cook Stoves Utilization for Women and Children in Yaya Gulele District, North Western Ethiopia

Abstract

In Ethiopia the major fuel sources are fire wood, cow dung, crop residues and some leaves twigs and branches which are also common in North Shoa zone, Yaya Gulele District. For the surprise the fuel wood collection, preparation as well as cooking is the major roles and responsibilities of women and children in the district. Using fuel wood and cow dung have toxic emissions (CO2 and CH4) and coupled with low efficient (5-10%) traditional three stone stoves and very narrow and confined kitchen has been affecting the lives of thousands of the community more specifically women and children in the district. In attempt to reduce the reliance of households in fuel wood so that to improve their health and economic status of the participant households, World Vision Ethiopia Introduced a project called Energy Efficient Cook Stove (EECS) (improved cook stoves) just commencing 2010 by pilot phase. Though, these stoves have multifaceted benefits the utilization and adaptation by the beneficiaries found low. Hence, the purpose of the research is to assess the socioeconomic benefits and challenges of EECSU for women and children and hence to produce important recommendation for improvements. The specific objectives are to assess the socio -economic benefits having from utilization of EECSU, to identify the socio economic challenges facing while EECSU and the strength and weakness of the project. The study conducted using both qualitative and quantitative methods using descriptive design. In the district about 1600 EECS distributed for more than 800 Households from which both probability and non-probability sampling methods were used to select the samples. The non-probability sampling used to select Kebeles already using the EECS and then proportionate stratified sampling used to select 75 households based on the number of the beneficiaries (universe) in the selected Kebeles. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from the sampled households using structure and semi structured questions. While the qualitative data mainly were generated from focus group discussions, field observations using structured interview schedule and documentary analysis. Before conducting the actual data collection the structured interview schedule was pre-tested, revised and then administered in the study area. Descriptive statistics such as mean, and frequencies were used to summarize the quantitative data using computer(SPSS) where us qualitative data’s from FGD and filed observations are collected, sorted, rearranged grouped and incorporated to support the primary data. The study result showed that EECSU have increased access for capacity building through trainings (52% Health, 41% Agriculture and 39 % on climate and SWC), fuel wood reduction (28 %) perceived smoke reduction ((65.3%), utilization saved time for childcare and livelihood, reduction of hazards compared to traditional stove (example 24.4 % burning of body) reduction in work load pressure, and improvements in safety and protection for women and children. Despite the benefits there were challenges related to EECU that hindering the benefits for women and children ranging from community to stockholders level. The fuel wood types (56 %,46 % and 17 % for cow dung, fuel wood and others such as crop residue ,lives and twigs) and fuel wood collection and responsibilities(48%,38.5 % and 13.5 % for women , children and men respectively), lack f appropriate utilization of EECS, low monitoring and evaluation. The project has strengths like focusing on global concern (addressing the impact of climate change), focuses on women and children and opens opportunity for women empowerment and child wellbeing through community organization and improving saving culture. EECSU have various benefits for women and children that are limited in number as well as concepts but the benefits should go beyond the current thought as well as the practice. Hence, it is recommended that all the partners (the women, the NGOs, and GOs) should work in collaboration to boost the benefit from EECS utilization in holistic manner including their social, economical, psychological,

moral and other issues in terms of women empowerment and child -well being issues. The challenges of the households for not adopting and utilization of the stoves are related to awareness, access for fuel wood, inappropriate design of stoves for traditional meal preparation and lack of commitment and integration among stakeholders for implementation and monitoring of the project. Hence, it is recommended to prepare mass awareness and educations on benefits of EECS benefits, developing individual and communal nurseries for increasing access to fuel wood, promote men to engage in household chores and develop workshops that will boost the stakeholders to work together particularly in the project monitoring and supervision. Besides, many of the literatures and the current study focusing on the socioeconomic benefits of the EECS and related matters. Therefore, it is essential to conduct research specifically on the contribution of EECS for Women Empowerment and Child Well Being because these two groups are suffering most in the world in chores related to fuel wood collection, preparation and food preparation.