This report looks at girls’ access to natural resources and how this contributes to their empowerment. As girls’ roles in the household are closely linked to women’s, mainly domestic roles, this report looks in particular at resources associated with household tasks, including water, agricultural land and labour. Literature on girls’ access to other natural resources appears extremely limited.
- Adolescent girls are often involved in agricultural or domestic labour. Lack of data on non-economic activities makes it difficult to ascertain how much time girls spend such activities, but research indicates that girls’ labour burden continues to be higher than that of boys. Easy access to resources required for everyday household tasks, such as water and firewood, is likely to reduce girls’ labour burden.
- Easy access to water reduces girls’ vulnerability to violence, as it prevents them from having to walk to remote and dangerous places to fetch water.
- Girls are likely to be impacted negatively by the effects of climate change, such as drought or flooding, which might require them to spend more time fetching water or walking further to gather firewood.
- There is limited research available specifically on girls’ asset ownership and inheritance rights, though it may be assumed that they are closely linked to women’s rights and ownership. There is some indication that where women’s labour increases in ‘value’, the asset ownership and empowerment of women and girls are enhanced.
