UNCDF to expand clean cooking energy in Tanzania through EU financing

Rahel Pallangyo

DAR ES SALAAM: THE United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) has

received an additional 2.4 million Euros from the European Union (EU) to expand the CookFund programme which promotes clean and green energy cooking solutions in five regions of mainland Tanzania.

This brings the total funding for the programme to 19.4 million Euros from 17.0 million Euros and will support its implementation until September 2026.

The Head of UNCDF Tanzania, Peter Malika expressed his appreciation for the additional funding in Dar es Salaam yesterday, stating that it will strengthen the legal framework and raise awareness about the urgency of mitigating climate change by adopting cleaner and efficient cooking alternatives.

“The goal is to reach endusers by stimulating the market for a sustainable cooking energy mix, strengthening the legal framework, and sensitising the public to change their mindset and cooking behaviour from traditional methods such as using wood and charcoal,” he said.

He said the CookFund programme is currently being implemented in the Mbeya, Iringa, Ruvuma, Njombe and Katavi regions to improve access to clean and affordable cooking energy for rural and poor households.

The additional funding will address market barriers in the clean energy cooking sector in Tanzania by increasing end-user affordability, addressing the undercapitalisation of businesses, and expanding the outreach of clean energy solutions.

“It will also support legal and regulatory frameworks for biomass energy, including enforceability and pilot the switch and transition of public institutions from using charcoal and firewood to cleaner fuels and appliances,” he said.

Furthermore, the funding will be used to raise public awareness about clean energy cooking through nationwide campaigns utilising farreaching media such as radio and television.

The CookFund programme is part of the EU’s wider Integrated Approach to Sustainable Cooking Solutions initiative.

The UNCDF serves as the main implementing and fund manager, working in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

He emphasised that these efforts contribute to achieving the National Energy Policy and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The CookFund programme seeks to make clean cooking solutions readily available and affordable to end-users by stimulating the market for a sustainable cooking energy mix, strengthening the legal framework, and sensitising the public to change their mindset and cooking behaviour from traditional methods such as using wood and charcoal.