Women's Empowerment, Governance, and the Economics of Clean Cooking Transitions in Africa

ABSTRACT Over the past few decades, the global economy, particularly in developing nations, has persistently grappled with rising dependence on conventional energy resources, thus rendering the realization of Sustainable Development Goals 5 and 7 (SDGs 5 and 7) an elusive aspiration for the international community. This study bridges a notable void in scholarly discourse by assessing the effects of gender inclusion and governance quality on access to clean cooking fuels in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) between 2000 and 2023. This study utilizes Driscoll–Kraay standard error (DKSE) and feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) approaches to accomplish this objective. The empirical outcome indicates that an upsurge in women's engagement in socioeconomic and political activities stimulates economic activities and boosts household financial capability, thereby enhancing access to and the affordability of clean cooking energy resources across the SSA region. Additionally, the study established that governance structures provide an enabling environment that supports the engagement of women in energy management decisions in several economic, political, and socioeconomic forums, hence accelerating the transition towards sustainable cooking practices in the region. Consequently, this research offers notable insights for decision makers in designing targeted inclusive energy transition strategies for the region.