Clean cooking businesses in Tanzania to get financial and technical assistance

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Private companies that are promoting clean cooking solutions in the United Republic of Tanzania are set to get 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).

Funding is 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 US$ 50,000 and US$ 400,000 which will be awarded upon the achievement of mutually agreed milestones and technical assistance.

Victoria Sabula, CEO of the AECF said,

Reliance by low-income households on wood fuel for cooking has massive negative environmental and health impacts – hence providing clean cooking alternatives is imperative if we are to transition to a low-carbon economy. 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 this 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.”

Eng. Felchesmi Mramba, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy in Tanzania said,

“As women are disproportionately affected by indoor air pollution, I am glad that this new 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.”

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.

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Notes to Editors

About AECF

The AECF is an African development funder that supports innovative commercial businesses in the agribusiness, renewable energy and adaptation to climate change technology sectors. It aims to reduce rural poverty, promote resilient communities and create jobs through private sector development.

AECF provides patient capital to highly innovative, early-stage and growing enterprises that are hidden gems, poised for greatness, but that struggle to access funding from traditional sources of finance.

Launched in 2008, the AECF has mobilized over US$ 420 million, leveraged more than US$ 771 million in matching capital, improved the lives of more than 30 million people, created, and sustained over 26,500 direct jobs. We have so far supported 375 impact-focused Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in 26 countries across sub-Saharan Africa; within 40 value chains in our focal sectors of agribusiness and renewable energy.

 

About the Tanzania Clean Cooking Project (TCCP)

The Tanzania Clean Cooking Project (TCCP) supports transformational business models adapt to target markets to accelerate access to affordable clean cooking solutions in rural and marginalized communities in urban and peri-urban areas across Tanzania.

The project supports commercially viable small and growing clean cooking companies and supports innovative ideas that stimulate new approaches to increase affordability and access to clean and efficient cooking solutions.

For more information on TCCP visit: https://www.aecfafrica.org/approach/our-programmes/renewable-energy/tanzania-clean-cooking-project-tccp/

 

Contacts 

AECF

Robert Magori

E-mail: press@aecfafrica.org

 

Embassy of Sweden in Tanzania

Stephen Mwakifwamba

EoS TZ e-mail: stephen.mwakifwamba@gov.se