Clean cooking

Woman sitting next to cooking pots

In many low-income countries, communities have no option but to use polluting and harmful fuels burned on inefficient stoves to cook. Approximately one-third of the global population, roughly 2.6 billion people, depends on fuels like wood and charcoal for their cooking and heating needs. 

The use of open fires and inefficient stoves not only hampers economic and social progress, but also poses significant health risks. Household air pollution resulting from cooking is responsible for the premature death of millions of people worldwide. The combustion of wood, charcoal, coal and kerosene significantly intensifies global black carbon emissions, contributing to climate change. Women and girls, who primarily bear the responsibility for cooking, are disproportionately affected by these health and economic burdens. Many endure exposure to harmful smoke and spend considerable time and effort collecting cooking fuel. 

Recognizing the pressing need for action, we work to stimulate the growth of clean cooking markets and accelerate the transition to more sustainable solutions by cultivating local, supportive ecosystems. This involves several key strategies, including:

  • Supporting entrepreneurs and manufacturers to expand the production and retail networks of locally produced cookstoves.
  • Creating an enabling environment for clean cooking access in underserved communities.     
  • Promoting financial inclusion to overcome investment barriers hindering widespread adoption.      
  • Teaming up with organizations and initiatives focused on accelerating the transition to clean cooking and driving innovation.
woman stirring food in cooking pot

Clean cooking partnerships in informal settlements

The Enabling African Cities for Transformative Energy Access (ENACT) program, in partnership with ICLEI Africa, works with local governments in Uganda and Sierra Leone to create conditions favorable for private companies to provide clean, safe, and affordable cooking technologies and fuels to urban residents. Baseline studies in Kampala and Freetown show that most residents and small businesses heavily rely on charcoal for cooking, with barriers to cleaner alternatives stemming from awareness gaps and concerns over affordability and safety. Our technical support enabled private sector partners to devise tailored solutions for the unique challenges of informal settlements and to develop business cases demonstrating the financial and social viability of enhancing clean cooking access in urban areas through market-driven approaches.

Man holding cooking pot

Developing the market for fuel-efficient cookstoves

In many parts of Kenya, traditional, fuel-hungry charcoal or wood stoves remain prevalent despite their inefficiency, unsustainability, and health risks. Enhanced, energy-efficient models that use up to 45% less biomass offer a practical interim solution for low-income communities unable to afford cleaner alternatives, such as gas or electric stoves. We help cookstove producers, distributors, lenders, and community groups in impoverished areas establish sustainable markets for improved stoves, increasing availability, accessibility, and affordability. Since 2021, through collaboration with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Green Climate Fund, over 80,000 stoves have been sold, benefiting 330,000 people and cutting CO2 emissions by more than 220K tons. This also creates livelihoods for local entrepreneurs and promotes economic growth.

woman standing next to cooking pots

Research and market studies to scale up investment

Energy 4 Impact partnered with the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) program to conduct research studies on financing trends and funding landscapes in the clean cooking sector. These studies explored various financing mechanisms, including crowdfunding, results-based financing, end-user financing, and concessions in displacement settings, all aimed at scaling up investment, whilst offering recommendations to donors on the critical interventions needed to support the growth of the industry. As the in-country partner for MECS in Rwanda, we also conducted a feasibility study to explore strategies for transitioning to modern energy cooking. The study outlined critical next steps for public and private stakeholders towards popularizing clean cooking technologies in the country.

Related resources

Ugandan partners to implement clean cooking interventions in Kampala's informal settlements 
Fueling a greener future: developing the market for fuel-efficient cookstoves in coastal Kenya
Modern Energy Cooking: Review of the Funding Landscape 
Research highlights critical next steps for scaling the clean cooking sector in Rwanda
Clean Cooking: Results-based financing as a potential scale-up tool for the sector