Oryx Energies, Kidoti Foundation partner to promote clean cooking through salonists
DAR ES SALAAM: ORYX Energies Tanzania and the Kidoti Foundation have launched a partnership to promote clean cooking by enlisting salon professionals as ambassadors of the campaign across the country.
The three-year initiative seeks to harness the influence of hairdressers, barbers and beauty service providers, who interact with hundreds of customers every day, to raise awareness of the benefits of clean cooking energy.
Speaking during the signing of the partnership agreement, Kidoti Foundation Executive Director Jokate Mwegelo, who also serves as Patron of the Tanzania Salonists Association (CCST), said salon professionals are uniquely positioned to drive behavioural change within communities.
“Salon service providers interact with people from all walks of life every day. They build close relationships with their clients, making them well-positioned to influence behavioural change and encourage the adoption of clean cooking energy. We want them to become ambassadors of this transformation,” she said.
Ms Mwegelo said expanding access to clean cooking solutions requires the active participation of communities and the private sector, rather than relying solely on government efforts.
She noted that the partnership will enable salon professionals to adopt clean energy in their businesses while encouraging customers to shift away from polluting cooking fuels that endanger human health and the environment.
ORYX Energies Tanzania Sales Manager Shaban Fundi said the company entered the partnership after recognising the important role community groups can play in accelerating the adoption of clean cooking technologies.
He said the company remains committed to increasing public awareness of the benefits of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and other modern cooking solutions that contribute to improved public health and environmental conservation.
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“For many years, ORYX Gas has implemented programmes to promote clean cooking among different groups. Through this threeyear partnership with the Kidoti Foundation, we are extending these efforts to another important community group salon professionals,” Fundi said.
Meanwhile, CCST Chairman Ntuli Mwakatobe described the partnership as an important opportunity to empower salon owners and beauty professionals to contribute to the implementation of Tanzania’s clean cooking agenda. He said many salon operators have been seeking safer and more cost-effective energy solutions for their businesses.
“Today we have an opportunity not only to use clean energy but also to become advocates for public awareness. We will use this opportunity to educate our customers every day,” he said.
The promotion of clean cooking energy is widely recognised as an effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve public health and lessen the burden on women, who traditionally bear the greatest responsibility for household cooking.
