Promoting electric cooking in Nepalese households
Nepal has around 40 per cent of forest coverage, but forest quality is degrading. The use of fuelwood for cooking in traditional stoves has adverse effects on local natural ecosystems and causes over 24,000 premature deaths annually due to indoor air pollution. Awareness and commitment from communities and policy makers are needed to support the adoption of electric cooking. Removing social and technological barriers is key to allow change to occur. The project aims to support at least 500 households to adopt electricity-based cooking. In addition, close cooperation with local governments is sought to enable the integration of clean cooking technologies into the local climate action plan with the support of local communities.
INITIAL SITUATION
People, Energy & Environment Development Association (PEEDA) implements the IKI Small Grants project in Baiteswor rural municipality with its around 1,700 households. They primarily use firewood for cooking, and only 28 per cent have access to cleaner energy options. The constant demand for firewood has put a strain on local ecosystems as trees are cut down, affecting the stability of slopes and increasing the risk of landslides and emissions from wood burning. In this region, climate change often manifests itself through more severe weather events, which exacerbate these impacts. The switch to cleaner options is hindered by a lack of awareness of the benefits of electric cooking. In addition, local gender roles make it difficult for households to adopt cleaner technologies.
TARGET GROUP
The project targets two distinct groups: local households, specifically women, and local policymakers. At least 500 local households are directly supported through the project with electric cooking technologies. To ensure sustainability, the project works closely with the local municipality and advocates for effective measures within the Local Adaptation Plans for Action framework to promote electric cooking methods.
VIDEOS FROM THE PROJECT
APPROACH AND ACTIVITIES
This IKI Small Grants project aims to improve the awareness, knowledge, and capacity of local communities and local decision makers to achieve wider adoption of electric cooking. To develop an appropriate clean cooking strategy, PEEDA conducts a baseline study to identify energy needs and cooking habits, as well as community’s perception on electric cooking, as well as their capacities to pay for the technology. The organisation trains and promotes clean cooking in schools and communities to achieve wider adoption. Massive awareness campaigns are conducted in rural and urban areas through digital and print media.
Not only on the demand side but also on the supply side, the project investigates the feasibility of promoting electric cooking. The project assesses the reliability and quality of electricity supply. The project addresses existing gaps at all levels of the value chain that are critical for the uptake of the technology, including financing, operation and maintenance, and after-sales service.
In addition, the IKI Small Grants project creates mechanisms at the local level to support the promotion of electric cooking. For this, PEEDA holds meetings with relevant stakeholders to strengthen collaboration, and supports local government in the planning process and in developing implementation guidelines. To bring clean cooking to a wider audience in urban areas, the organisation hosts open discussions, workshops, writes articles and publishes videos in digital and print media.
GALLERY
CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
IKI Small Grants supports PEEDA in their organisational capacity development through:
- Gender Equality Social Inclusion responsive proposal development and writing
- Results-based monitoring and evaluation training
- Leadership and team management training
ABOUT THE ORGANISATION
People, Energy & Environment Development Association (PEEDA) was established in 1997 to promote the renewable energy sector in Nepal. PEEDA aims to mobilise resources to harness the country’s indigenous resources and thereby promote poverty alleviation activities. The focus is on institutional development, grassroots stakeholder participation in development activities, research, and advocacy for policy change. The PEEDA team envisions that economic development can be achieved through sustainable energy development activities, with a focus on ensuring that this development reaches the poor.