SDG 5: Gender equality

In 2015, the United Nations established the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a global agenda for sustainable development until 2030. FairClimateFund contributes to several SDGs, including SDG 5: Gender Equality.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that men and women have the same rights. Yet this is not enough. “Equality between men and women is not only a human right, but also the basis for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world,” says the United Nations.

In practice, it appears that women and girls are often still disadvantaged compared to men and boys, especially in developing countries. This fifth goal states that by 2030, women and men must also have equal rights in practice to facilities such as education, health care and work. In addition, women and men must be equally represented in political and economic decision-making.

The position of women in FairClimateFund’s climate projects is improving in several ways. Women save time cooking and gathering wood, which allows them to generate additional income for their families and the community and they have more time to actively participate in various village meetings. In addition, women are assigned responsible roles in the project groups. For example, a female “mahila worker” has been chosen per village as the point of contact for the project and as spokesperson for village meetings.

Gender equality and FairClimateFund’s climate projects

Within the projects of FairClimateFund, opportunities for women improve in various ways. By using our efficient cooking solutions, women save considerable time that they would otherwise spend on cooking and collecting firewood. This time can be used for other activities, such as generating income or participating in village meetings. In addition, women are encouraged to take on responsible roles within our projects. For example, within the cooktoves project in India, a female “mahila worker” is elected by the community. She acts as a contact person and spokesperson for project-related meetings.

Clean cooking solutions as a tool for gender equality

The implementation of Clean Cooking Solutions (CCS) can play an important role in advancing gender equality. Women in low- and middle-income countries often bear a disproportionate burden in managing household tasks such as cooking and collecting firewood. Clean cooking solutions reduce the time pressure and physical effort involved.

Clean cooking solutions enable women to:

Save time: Spend less time on labor-intensive tasks such as collecting firewood, leaving more time for education, economic activities or rest.
Improve health:
Reducing exposure to harmful smoke reduces household air pollution, with immediate and long-term health benefits.

Seizing Financial Opportunities: More efficient cooking methods allow for fuel cost savings, creating room for investment in personal and professional growth.

An important aspect of FairClimateFund’s projects is the Fairtrade premium that is linked to some climate projects. This premium offers women an extra financial incentive to invest in their quality of life. Moreover, efficient cooking solutions contribute to more social participation of women and strengthen their position in decision-making within their community.