The Role Of Social Business In Promoting Clean Energy Access For Women: Case Study From Bangladesh

Abstract

Social businesses are playing a significant role in empowering women and promoting clean energy access in developing nations by creating innovative approaches tailored to the needs of women. Women in rural regions are more exposed to energy poverty, which can be alleviated through the ripple effect of social businesses providing affordable solar electricity, clean cookstoves and empowering them through vocational training. In order to enhance the capacity of women to use clean energy technology safely and effectively, and encourage women entrepreneurs in this sector, training is delivered by social businesses which empowers them to be in charge of their economic well-being and energy needs. Women’s health can also be improved through renewable energy e.g. clean cooking fuels lessen indoor air pollution. These approaches result in positive impacts in terms of enhancing women empowerment and reducing disaster vulnerability. Empirical data collected from rural schools for women, which also offer vocational training, reveal significant positive impacts of solar-powered electricity. These include improved academic performance, increased enrollment rates, enhanced women empowerment, and greater disaster resilience. Despite the clear benefits, social business remains an underutilized tool that requires considerable expansion and adoption. Overall substantial work is required for advancement of social businesses in eradicating energy poverty in rural Bangladesh.