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Quicker and healthier: The improved stoves are designed to achieve higher fuel efficiency which reduces time spent collecting wood and expenditure on fuel.

Project type: Household devices

Region: Africa

Standards:

The Ugandan Improved Cookstoves project subsidises the sale of fuel-efficient biomass and charcoal cookstoves across Uganda to improve cooking conditions and reduce indoor air pollution. This Gold Standard project is establishing markets and offers microcredit to help rural and peri-urban households and institutions, such as schools, who are unable to afford upfront costs. To date, more than 480,000 stoves have been sold through the project, benefitting 2.4 million people.

Uganda: Improved Cookstoves

Contribution to sustainable developmentThe project contributes to sustainable development in several key areas:

Economic growthThrough the support of carbon finance, cookstove sales have steadily increased from fewer than ten residential stoves per day in 2006, to an average of 637 stoves per day in 2013, which equates to 13,897 stoves per month.

The project focus was initially around Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. More recently, it has developed partnerships with organisations who distribute the cookstoves to previously inaccessible regions in Northern and Western Uganda. In addition to the sale of stoves in these areas, this expansion has also improved community awareness of the importance of more efficient cooking techniques.

Financial securityThe improved cookstoves, which reduce fuel use by 36% compared to traditional cooking methods, can save families more than US $105 per year and, through a microcredit system, households are offered a reduced price on the stove’s initial purchase. Additionally, the project developer sells larger institutional stoves to schools, saving roughly 45% per meal cooked on fuelwood compared to traditional stoves.

Job creationThe project employs 51 staff members in operational, management and administration roles. The project also currently employs more than 230 local artisans in manufacturing and marketing positions. In addition, the project developers offer a reduced wholesaler price to more than 900 retailers and other small enterprises, to make bulk purchases more affordable. These retailers then sell the stoves throughout the communities.

Energy accessUsing the new cookstoves, households save an average of 26% of annual charcoal requirements. The design of the stove and its reduced fuel use requirement means that charcoal can be purchased less regularly. Additionally, there is a significant reduction in time needed to cook. The widespread distribution of the fuel-efficient stove ensures the majority of the population has access to this time and cost-efficient technology.

The projectMore than 95% of Ugandans traditionally rely on solid fuels for cooking; typically charcoal or wood in urban areas and wood for rural households. These practices emit large levels of CO2 which is damaging to both the environment and to the health of local communities. Through the use of an improved cookstove, families require less fuel and reduce their exposure to health risks associated with traditional stoves, such as burns and indoor air pollution.

As a result of less fuel used, the improved cookstoves also reduce the time spent collecting wood, expenditure on fuel and the subsequent environmental degradation from collecting biomass.

The improved cookstoves reduce fuel use by 36% compared to traditional cooking methods and can save families more than US $105 per year

The project employs more than 230 local artisans for the manufacturing of this locally-made technology.

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Biodiversity protectionAcross Uganda, native forest cover is stripped to support charcoal production; this then supplies urban areas with a fuel source. The latest verification report for the project calculated that approximately 92% of all biomass in Uganda, typically used for cooking and heating purposes, was non-renewable. The improved cookstove saves 26% of annual charcoal use and the scale of stove distribution has led to a reduced pressure on national ecosystems.

Empowering womenThe efficiency of the cookstove reduces the time needed for cooking, allowing women to participate in other activities and spend more time with family. It also reduces the amount of indoor air pollution that women are exposed to, improving health and well-being.

The regionUganda is one of 48 Least Developed Countries, located in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is ranked 164th worldwide1 in terms of Human Development Index, which is a composite statistic of life expectancy, education and income. It is estimated that 97% of the population are using solid fuels for cooking, equivalent to over 35 million people, while only 1% of the population has access to electricity and gas. The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves estimates that the use of solid fuels causes over 13,000 deaths every year.

LocationThe project is implemented in Kampala and rural areas throughout Northern and Western Uganda.

1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Human_ Development_Index

Health and well-beingGlobally, nearly three billion people use solid fuels on traditional stoves or open fires for cooking and heating. The Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 estimates that exposure to smoke from cooking is the fourth worst risk factor for disease in developing countries.

Distributing improved stoves reduces the level of indoor air pollution and subsequent respiratory illness levels, particularly for women and children who are often most exposed.

Education and skillsThe project uses resident artisans for the manufacturing of this locally-made technology and has introduced specialist ceramic skills for them to enhance the stove functionality.

The project also engages with cookstove manufacturers to help reach a greater number of retailers across more distribution channels. This expands the reach of the project and reduces costs associated with logistics, which helps to keep stove prices low for buyers.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OFTHE CONGO

KENYA

SOUTHSUDAN

RWANDA TANZANIA

LAKEVICTORIA

UGANDA

KAMPALA

The project isimplemented inKampala and rural areasthroughout Northernand Western Uganda.

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