On August 16, the International Energy Agency (IEA) launched a $37 billion initiative aimed at expanding access to clean cooking technologies across sub-Saharan Africa by 2040. The program responds to one of the region’s most persistent energy access crises: more than 900 million people still rely on traditional biomass fuels, contributing to an estimated 815,000 premature deaths annually from indoor air pollution. The initiative will mobilize donor governments, development banks, and private companies to fund the distribution of modern stoves, clean fuels, and related infrastructure.
The push for clean cooking is more than a health intervention—it is also an economic and environmental strategy. Traditional cooking methods drive deforestation, increase household labor burdens (especially for women and children), and exacerbate carbon emissions. By scaling clean cooking solutions, the initiative seeks to reduce health risks, free up time for education and work, and create local employment in stove production and fuel distribution. The IEA highlighted that achieving universal access would require annual investments of about $1.5 billion over the next 15 years, a modest figure compared to other global infrastructure programs.
At stake is not only energy access but also the credibility of the global energy transition in regions where basic needs remain unmet. For sub-Saharan governments, the success of the initiative will depend on how effectively international commitments are translated into affordable, locally adapted solutions. If clean cooking technologies are widely adopted, they could transform livelihoods, reduce inequality, and strengthen the legitimacy of energy policies in the eyes of communities. In that sense, the program is as much about building social license for broader transition efforts as it is about delivering stoves and fuels.
Program Profile – IEA Clean Cooking Initiative (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Lead Actor: International Energy Agency (IEA)
Update (Aug 16, 2025): $37 billion initiative launched (target 2040)
Focus: Clean cooking access for ~900 million people
Key Goals: Reduce indoor air pollution, improve health, cut deforestation, empower women and children
Strategic Role: Link basic energy access with just and inclusive global energy transition