Gender-Based Indigenous Energy Use under the Changing Climate among Rural Communities in East Gojjam, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

This study examined gender-based energy use under the changing
climate change among the rural households in Sinan District of Amhara
National Regional State. Data were gathered through a combination of
qualitative and quantitative methods using key informant interviews,
focus group discussions, observations and household survey. Data were
analyzed thematically through triangulation of the various data sources
to validate the findings. The findings revealed that gender-based
indigenous energy consumption practices have changed in the study area
owing to degradation of forest resources and other customary energy
sources such as cow dung. The changes in such patterns of energy
sources led the study communities to search for alternative energy
sources such as eucalyptus tree (mainly for marketing), charcoal (mainly
to generate cash), and crop residue (mainly for domestic consumption).
These changes have brought a shift in women’s and men’s customary
gender roles related to access, to control over and use of local energy
sources. The micro climate change at local level had caused genderdifferentiated
challenges as women were mostly responsible for
searching energy sources to be used for household consumption;
whereas men were mainly engaged in planting eucalyptus tree and
processing fuel wood and charcoal for marketing.