Despite the strong performance of the domestic economy, with an average annual growth rate of 7%, the level of poverty remains high in Côte d’Ivoire; particularly among women, where the rate of poverty is 47.4% compared to 45.5% for men. The situation is even more alarming in rural areas, with about 75% of women living below the poverty line, even though they are heavily involved in the agricultural sector. Rural women spend a large share of their income on the basic needs of their families, indicating that household living conditions are quite challenging. The key message is highlighted as: Access to electricity enables the improvement of household living conditions through increased income generating opportunities and the empowerment of rural dwelling women and decentralised electrification using biomass power plants is a practical, feasible, environmentally friendly and, above all, a cost-effective alternative for electrifying small, remote localities, given the high costs of connecting to the national grid.
