Efficient Cookstoves, Malawi

Many developed countries rely on biomass for cooking, which is a root cause of poverty, poor health, gender inequality, and environmental degradation. 

In Malawi, 89% of the energy mix is currently supplied by biomass, with the household sector being the dominant energy user. Malawi’s forests have a current annual deforestation rate of 2.3%. 

To address this issue, the project is providing households with improved cookstoves. These stoves consist of a pottery structure, made from locally sourced clay. 

The project targets households cooking on traditional and inefficient cookstoves that cook with non-renewable biomass. Access to a fuel-efficient cookstove reduces deforestation, brings health benefits and delivers financial savings to Malawian communities.

In addition to delivering emissions reductions to help take urgent action to combat climate change (SDG 13), the project delivers a number of other sustainable development benefits. These include:

• Good Health and Wellbeing: Making it safer to drink and cook by reducing water-borne disease and also reducing the need for fuelwood, decreasing indoor air pollution.
• Gender Equality: By reducing the time spent to collect fuel, the stove allows for time to be allocated to other tasks. Women are also encouraged to be sales agents, with at least half of the sales agent workforce female.
• Life on Land: Through the stoves’ efficiency improvements, the project decreases pressure on forests for firewood and subsequently decreases deforestation. There was a 32% reduction in Malawi's forest cover in less than 40 years.
• No Poverty: A reduction in time required to provide fuel for cooking makes time for other income generating activities. For some, it allows them to have a job.
• Decent Work and Economic Growth: Through the establishment of sales agents, there is an increased rate of employment and a new income generating opportunity.
• Quality Education: Community members are trained to produce the stoves.