Left in the Dark: How Energy Poverty Deeply Impacts Women and Children in Developing Economies
- Sean Brown
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
By Uche NextGEN Foundation Inc.
In a world where electricity powers opportunity, millions are still living in the shadows. Energy poverty — the lack of access to modern, reliable, and affordable energy — continues to be a silent crisis in developing economies, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. And as with most global injustices, the burden falls disproportionately on women and children.
At Uche NextGEN Foundation, we work on the front lines of this challenge every day. The lack of energy isn’t just an inconvenience. It’s a barrier to health, education, safety, and economic mobility. It robs women of their independence, and it steals futures from children before they’ve had a chance to dream.
What Is Energy Poverty?
Energy poverty goes beyond having no access to electricity. It includes:
Unreliable or limited access to power.
Overreliance on hazardous fuels like firewood, charcoal, and kerosene.
Lack of infrastructure to support energy needs in homes, schools, and healthcare facilities.
In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, nearly 600 million people lack access to electricity, with rural areas being the most affected.
How Energy Poverty Harms Women and Children
🔥 Health Risks from Indoor Air Pollution
In homes without electricity, women and children spend hours inhaling toxic smoke from open fires or kerosene lamps. According to the World Health Organization, indoor air pollution kills more than 4 million people a year — most of them women and children.
🌙 Education Interrupted
Without light, children can’t study after sunset. Many girls are pulled from school to collect firewood or help with energy-intensive chores. Poor lighting and unsafe school environments further discourage consistent attendance.
⏳ Time Poverty
Women and girls spend up to 20 hours a week gathering fuel or fetching water — time that could be used for schooling, employment, or rest. Energy poverty directly limits their ability to learn, earn, or lead.
🧑🏽💼 Barriers to Economic Empowerment
Without electricity, women cannot run businesses, store perishable goods, or access digital tools. Energy poverty traps women in subsistence-level activities, cutting them off from income-generating opportunities and economic freedom.
🏥 Lack of Access to Health Services
Health clinics without power cannot refrigerate vaccines, run diagnostic equipment, or deliver babies safely at night. Pregnant women often travel long distances to access powered facilities — a dangerous gamble.
A Gendered Crisis Demanding Gendered Solutions
Energy poverty is not gender-neutral. It is rooted in systemic inequality and perpetuates the cycle of poverty. If we are serious about empowering women and protecting children, we must prioritize equitable energy access.
Uche NextGEN Foundation’s Response
At Uche NextGEN Foundation, we are working to:
Distribute solar lanterns and clean cookstoves to reduce health risks and increase safety.
Promote energy literacy among women and youth, empowering them to make informed energy choices.
Partner with schools and health clinics to provide reliable, sustainable power sources like solar microgrids.
Advocate for policy change that centers the voices and needs of women in national energy strategies.
What Can You Do?
✅ Donate: Support our clean energy initiatives in Nigeria and across Sub-Saharan Africa.
✅ Educate Others: Share this blog and raise awareness about the gendered impacts of energy poverty.
✅ Partner With Us: Are you in clean energy or policy? Let’s work together to close the access gap.
Conclusion: Light Brings Life
Imagine a world where every girl could study at night, every woman could run her business safely, and every child could go to school without the burden of energy chores. That’s the future we’re working toward — and it’s possible.
But only if we act now.
Let’s bring light, not just power. Hope, not just electricity.
🌍 Visit www.UcheNextGENFoundation.com to learn more, donate, or get involved.
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