Women cooperatives promoting clean cooking stoves

An estimated 70 per cent of Nepalese households cook with firewood. The use of biomass-based traditional cookstoves is one of the main causes of indoor air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in Nepal. As women are the primary users of cookstoves, the use of traditional stoves has severe impacts on women’s health and well-being. This project promotes clean cooking solutions to replace traditional cookstoves in Sudoor Paschim Province. Five local women's cooperatives were identified as key actors for a clean cooking initiative. They cooperate with two local governments and the producers of the clean cooking stoves. At the same time, the project develops plans, policies, and financial packages for the promotion of clean cookstoves. It further establishes business linkages between producers and women cooperatives for the promotion and sales of clean cookstoves in the targeted municipalities to establish a sustainable environment for energy-efficient cookstoves in the region.