ABSTRACT
Women's and girls’ ability to empower themselves economically and politically by going to school and engaging in productive and civic activities is often limited by their responsibility for everyday maintenance tasks in the household division of labor. For poor women and girls this burden is even greater because of the underinvestment in public infrastructure in most low-income countries. The time women and girls spend on routine tasks can be reduced dramatically if the appropriate infrastructure is in place: efficient sources of energy (especially new forms of fuel for cooking and heating), transport systems, and water and sanitation systems. Investments in such infrastructure to relieve women's time burdens are essential to maximize the impact of the strategic priorities discussed in this report and to reduce poverty.
