Tanzania leads Africa’s clean cooking revolution in climate push

DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA is once again positioning itself at the forefront of Africa’s climate diplomacy, with clean cooking energy now firmly embedded in its national development and climate mitigation priorities.

Against the backdrop of escalating global efforts to reduce emissions and promote sustainable livelihoods, Tanzania’s renewed commitment to the clean cooking agenda is both timely and strategic.

The latest affirmation of this stance came during the conclusion of the second African Group of Negotiators (AGN) meeting on climate change, held recently in Dar es Salaam.

It was here that Dr Richard Muyungi, Chair of the AGN reiterated the country’s ambition to ensure that at least 80 per cent of Tanzanians gain access to clean cooking energy by 2030.

The target is ambitious but aligned with both domestic policy and international climate goals. This commitment builds on the momentum generated by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who has emerged as a prominent advocate of clean cooking solutions.

Her role was formally recognised during COP28 in Dubai, where she was endorsed by fellow African Union (AU) leaders for championing clean cooking initiatives across the continent.

This recognition is not symbolic alone, it underscores Tanzania’s shift from a participant in climate forums to an agenda setter on critical issues such as energy access and gender equitable climate solutions. Country’s leadership is not limited to declarations.

It is increasingly shaping institutional frameworks across Africa. One of the most significant developments emerging from the AGN meeting was the decision to institutionalise the group within the African Union Commission (AUC) structure.

A dedicated subcommittee, chaired by Tanzania is now tasked with finalising the process before the end of the year an instruction endorsed by African Heads of State. The institutionalisation of the AGN is more than an administrative formality.

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Since its establishment in 1995, the AGN has played a crucial role in coordinating Africa’s climate negotiation positions.

However, it has historically operated without a formal structure or permanent secretariat. Dr Muyungi rightly noted that this has undermined both continuity and technical capacity.

By anchoring the AGN within the AUC, Tanzania is helping secure a more coordinated and powerful African voice in global negotiations particularly as the continent prepares for COP30 in Brazil.

Clean cooking energy is emerging as a strategic entry point for Tanzania’s broader climate and development diplomacy.

The issue cuts across health, gender, environment and economic empowerment in making it an ideal pillar for a just energy transition.

President Samia’s push for clean cooking is tightly linked with the Mission 300 initiative, which seeks to deliver 300 million clean cooking solutions across Africa.

Domestically, Tanzania has already launched a National Clean Cooking Energy Strategy, aiming to transition the majority of its population from biomassbased cooking to cleaner alternatives.

This is being complemented by the Clean Cooking Communications Strategy, designed to shift public behaviour and address cultural barriers.

Through radio, television, religious institutions and community leaders, the government is working to normalise clean cooking as a public good rather than a luxury.

But while communication is key, finance remains the engine. Tanzania’s strategy is estimated to cost 1.8 US billion dollars over 10 years.

Recent developments suggest the country is gaining traction on this front as well, having secured grants and commitments from international partners.

However, scaling access to clean energy at this magnitude will demand even greater investment, policy coherence and private sector engagement.

At the continental level, the clean cooking agenda is becoming a rallying point for African unity in climate negotiations. Dr Muyungi was candid in his assessment of the risks facing the AGN.

Without a unified institutional framework, national interests could dilute the continent’s collective voice. Tanzania’s proposal to embed the AGN within the AUC while preserving its autonomy seeks to balance coordination with flexibility.

The AGN meeting in Dar es Salaam was thus more than a procedural event. It was a strategic recalibration of Africa’s climate diplomacy, with Tanzania at the helm.

It signalled a pivot from reactive participation to proactive agenda setting, centred on clean cooking as a practical and impactful climate solution. As COP30 approaches in November 2025, the pressure to translate commitments into results is mounting.

For Tanzania, the challenge now lies in maintaining momentum, ensuring policy and institutional alignment and mobilising resources at scale.

But it also has a unique opportunity: To not only lead by example but also shape continental norms and practices around climate actio