USAID Cuts Threaten Clean Cookstove Programs in Africa
Impact of Funding Withdrawal on Health and Environment
The Trump administration’s drastic 80% reduction in USAID programs has dealt a severe blow to clean cookstove initiatives across Africa. This policy shift forces millions of households to continue relying on wood and charcoal for cooking, exacerbating air pollution, deforestation, and greenhouse gas emissions throughout the continent.
The Clean Cooking Crisis
Clean cookstoves, which use electricity, gas, or efficient biomass, have been championed as affordable solutions that benefit both public health and the environment. “Funding is drying up, and the impact is real,” said Mattias Ohlson, CEO of Emerging Cooking Solutions in Zambia. “These programs often determine whether a company can launch successfully.”
Health and Environmental Consequences
Approximately one-third of the global population cooks with polluting fuels, contributing to:
- 3.7 million premature deaths annually (IEA)
- 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions (Stockholm Environment Institute)
- Disproportionate health impacts on women and children
Funding Challenges and Alternatives
With USAID grants disappearing, African clean cooking enterprises face significant hurdles:
Carbon Market Potential
Following COP29 agreements, some companies are exploring carbon credit financing. However, challenges remain:
- Verification issues in voluntary carbon markets
- Slow regulatory processes for bilateral agreements
- Reduced government funding commitments
Company Case Studies
Emerging Cooking Solutions
The Zambia-based company saw its $25 million “Alternatives to Charcoal” project frozen near completion, potentially losing 6.7% deforestation reduction benefits.
BioLite
The Nairobi firm lost $1.5 million in USAID funding for deploying 500,000 clean stoves, forcing scaled-back expansion plans.
Sistema.bio
The biodigester company is transitioning to UN-regulated carbon markets but faces bureaucratic delays in establishing credit trading systems.
Looking Ahead
With Africa needing $4 billion annually to achieve universal clean cooking access by 2030, the USAID funding gap creates significant challenges for public health and climate goals across the continent.
Source: Moneyweb
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