Background and Context
In Africa, access to clean cooking energy remains a significant challenge for millions. More than 83% of the population in Sub-Saharan African countries depend on traditional cooking methods predominantly biomass (charcoal and firewood), as their primary cooking fuel. Unfortunately, the production and use of biomass are unsustainable, leading to significant health impacts, increased deforestation, environmental degradation, and reduced carbon sinks.
With the continued use of polluting fuels for cooking, Africa, mainly Sub-Saharan Africa, incurs an ongoing cost of US$ 791.4 billion per year, driven by negative externalities in health, economy, and climate. The health impacts alone, including increased risk of respiratory illnesses and household air pollution-related deaths, cost the continent at least US$ 526.3 billion per year. Additionally, the economic toll of the gender impact is manifested through loss of productivity and labour opportunities, disproportionately affect women and children responsible for fuel collection, tending fire and clean cooking appliances.
The climate and environmental impact, in the form of greenhouse gas emissions, further compounds the cost of inaction at US$39.3 billion per year with the annual economic costs estimated at US$225.8 billion. Therefore, making clean cooking a priority not only supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 on energy access but also contributes to other SDGs related to gender equality, poverty eradication, health, education, and climate action.
On the climate agenda, transitioning to clean cooking serves as both a climate mitigation and adaptation strategy. The sector is essential for nature-based solutions and forms part of critical conservation and biodiversity programs as it reduce forest degradation. Development of the sector promises green entrepreneurship opportunities to Africa’s youthful population and helps reduce gender disparities across our communities.
To prioritize the clean cooking agenda , Africa requires strong national, regional and continental leadership which should be augmented by innovative financing models; strong partnerships and collaborations across government departments, private sector and development partners, along with sustained industrial efforts. However, financial flows toward clean cooking initiatives reveal both progress and persistent challenges in recent years. Despite significant strides, investments have fallen far short of the levels required to ensure universal access to modern cooking solutions by 2030. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that Africa needs about USD 4 billion per year to facilitate promotion and use of clean cooking solutions to 250 million women by 2030 who are largely affected by use of unclean cooking solutions that detrimental to the environment. This capital investment is required annually to achieve universal clean cooking access for all African people.
In addressing the pressing challenges of unclean fuel and technologies, African countries have shown strong political commitment and collaboration by implementing policies, strategies, and plans at both national and continental levels. Her Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, has been a key leader in championing African clean cooking initiatives through various local and global forums. At COP28 in 2023, she launched the African Women Clean Cooking Support Programme (AWCCSP) aiming to address critical gender, environmental, health, and economic challenges faced by women and girls in Africa due to the use of traditional cooking methods by 2030, further demonstrating Tanzania’s leadership in promoting clean cooking solutions across Africa. Subsequently, during the high level clean cooking summit held in May, 2024 co-chaired by the leaders of the governments of Tanzania and Norway, the African Development Bank and the International Energy Agency, the Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa mobilised USD 2.2 billion in financial pledges from governments and the private to support clean cooking initiatives in Africa.
Recognising the need for a transformative approach, the African Ministers responsible for Energy through the 4th Ordinary Session of the Specialised Technical Committee on Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure, and Energy (STC-TTIIE) held on 12-15 September 2023 in Zanzibar, Tanzania requested African Energy Commission (AFREC) to develop an African Clean Cooking Programme that focusses on advocacy and awareness, capacity building and fundraising for clean cooking initiatives in the continent. AFREC is leading the African Clean Cooking Programme.
Complimenting Continental initiatives, African Countries are developing national Policies and Strategies the Tanzanian government for instance has made clean cooking a priority. In May 2024, President Samia Suluhu Hassan launched the National Clean Cooking Strategy (2024-2034), Many other African Countries have also developed their National Strategies specifically for supporting Clean cooking energy or specific technologies such as e-cooking.
In view of the above , the African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with the United Republic of Tanzania is organizing this High-Level Side event on African Clean Cooking.
H.E Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AUC shall host the event and deliver the opening remarks together with H.E Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania who has been a major champion of Cleaning Cooking initiatives in Africa. Other distinguished African leaders such as H.E Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, the incoming presidency for G20- will provide the expected G20’s clean cooking focus areas for 2025 and others will also give their remarks supporting the continental clean cooking initiatives.