Reducing the burden of household chores empowers women

On this day, March 8, the world celebrates International Women’s Day. The theme chosen by the UN, “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”, is a call to action to break down the economic, social, and political barriers that persist. This day is also an opportunity to remind ourselves that gender equality is not only a matter of justice, but also a lever for a more equitable, prosperous, and sustainable world.
The Ivorian Center for Economic and Social Research (CIRES) takes this special day as an opportunity to honor, celebrate, and thank, once again, all women, regardless of their origins, cultures, or aspirations. This day is much more than a commemoration: Women! It is a tribute to your strength, your resilience, and your invaluable contribution to our societies.
Despite significant progress worldwide, challenges remain. Every day, you face hardships that, all too often, remain invisible to the world. In the face of inequality, prejudice, and violence, you continue to move forward with dignity and courage.
You carry out unpaid care work—such as housework, cooking, childcare, and caring for the elderly or sick—with determination. This work is essential to the functioning of societies and economies, yet it is often invisible or undervalued.
Women and girls, especially those of you living in rural areas of Côte d’Ivoire, you are not alone. CIRES believes in a world where every woman and every girl can live freely, realize her dreams, and contribute fully to society, without barriers or limits. This is the vision of the research project it has been conducting since 2024 with financial support from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada, a project titled “Use of the Tika Stove to Reduce the Domestic Workload of Women in Rural Ivory Coast.”
This project aims to provide evidence on women’s unpaid workload in rural areas of Côte d’Ivoire to inform policy implementation and promote the recognition, reduction, and redistribution of care work. It also aims to promote women’s empowerment by leveraging the time saved through the use of the improved stove to engage in income-generating activities and participate fully in community activities.
Women and girls, especially those of you living in rural areas of Côte d’Ivoire, you are not alone. CIRES believes in a world where every woman and every girl can live freely, realize her dreams, and contribute fully to society, without barriers or limitations. This is the vision of the research project it has been conducting since 2024 with financial support from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), a project titled “Use of the Tika Oven to Reduce the Domestic Workload of Women in Rural Ivory Coast”.
This project aims to provide evidence on the burden of unpaid work borne by women in rural areas of Côte d’Ivoire in order to inform policy implementation and promote the recognition, reduction, and redistribution of care work. It also aims to promote women’s empowerment by leveraging the time saved through the use of improved stoves to engage in income-generating activities and participate fully in community life.
On this March 8th, CIRES thanks you for your courage and perseverance in the efforts you make, often behind the scenes, for the happiness of your household members.

Happy International Women’s Day!
“Women are the future of men”— Louis Aragon

With improved stoves,
let’s give Ivorian women more time, better health, and more opportunities
for a more equitable future!”