Clean cooking businesses to get financial, technical assistance
PRIVATE companies that are promoting clean cooking solutions in the country are set to get up to 933m/- (400,000 US dollars) in grants and technical assistance through the Tanzania Clean Cooking Project (TCCP).
This project is funded by the Swedish government and implemented by the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF).
AECF said in a statement that funding would be available for private sector companies that deliver affordable, quality clean cooking solutions that benefit low-income customers in rural areas and towns across Tanzania.
Qualifying companies will receive performance-based grants of between 50,000 US dollars and 400,000 US dollars which will be awarded upon the achievement of mutually agreed milestones and technical assistance.
The Chief Executive Officer of the AECF, Victoria Sabula, reliance by low-income households on wood fuel for cooking has massive negative environmental and health impacts.
“Providing clean cooking alternatives is imperative if we are to transition to a low-carbon economy,” she said.
The Tanzania Clean Cooking Program seeks to surface innovative businesses that have the greatest potential to reach low-income households with affordable clean cooking solutions, and we are eager to see the positive social and economic impact of these companies over the next three years.
Sandra Diesel, Head of Development Cooperation, Embassy of Sweden said, the purpose of the project is to de-risk the enterprises providing clean cooking solutions and incentivize them to venture into new markets that are considered to have potential but are difficult to enter.
“By 2025, the project aims to distribute 60,000 clean cooking solutions and positively impact over 300,000 people across Tanzania,” The Head of Development Cooperation said.
Eng Felchesmi Mramba, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy in Tanzania said, he was pleased that the project targets the underserved consumers of clean cooking solutions who are currently using traditional cooking practices and will potentially lift them socially through the provision of affordable clean cooking solutions.
“Even more encouraging is that through this project, which utilizes a market-based approach there is a high potential to unlock additional investment from other development and private sector players,” he said.
The TCCP project seeks to reduce energy poverty through a transformational increase in the use of clean cooking solutions in rural, marginalized, and underserved communities. Ultimately, the project will see increased private sector investment, innovation in affordable clean cooking solutions, and accelerated access to clean cooking solutions in Tanzania.
