EU Ambassador to Tanzania and EAC, Christine Grau and an exhibitor in an interaction. Photo: UNCDF.

Representatives from government, private sector and development partners concluded a two-day conference in Arusha today where they explored opportunities to scale progress and meet a target of 80 percent clean cooking take-up by 2034.

The Government of Tanzania is advancing efforts to expand access to clean cooking solutions by strengthening policy frameworks, mobilizing financing, empowering communities, and expanding private sector engagement with the support of the European Union and UN Capital Development Fund.

The National Clean Cooking Conference in Arusha on June 10–11, 2026 brought togetherstakeholders to align actions needed to achieve the national target of 80 percent household access by 2034.

Clean cooking remains a critical development challenge in Tanzania, with the majority of households still relying on firewood and charcoal. Expanding access is essential to improving public health, protecting the environment, and supporting women and youth, who are disproportionately affected by traditional cooking methods.

Held under the theme “Advancing Tanzania’s Clean Cooking Future: Progress, Partnerships, and Pathways Toward 80% Access by 2034”, the conference highlighted progress made, identified barriers to adoption, and forged new pathways for scaling clean cooking nationwide. Discussions underscored the importance of coordinated action to accelerate adoption. Stakeholders also emphasized the need for robust monitoring and accountability systems to track adoption and ensure transparency.

From left to right: EU Ambassador to Tanzania and East Africa-Christine Grau, Tanzania’s Deputy Minister of Energy- Hon., Salome Makamba, Peter Malika - UNCDF Chief Technical Advisor, Massimiliano Preddetii - EU Energy Portfolio Manager, Michel Nduwaita-EU Communications Officer, and Nolasco Mlay - Director of Clean Cooking, Ministry of Energy, during the National Clean Cooking Conference 2026 in Tanzania.

Speaking at the event, the Guest of Honour, Hon. Salome Makamba, Deputy Minister of Energy, reaffirmed the government’s commitment: “The Government of Tanzania is committed to achieving 80 percent clean cooking access by 2034. This conference has helped us align policies, financing, and community engagement strategies to accelerate progress. Clean cooking is central to protecting health, empowering women and youth, and safeguarding our environment.” She also highlighted the President’s championship of clean energy initiatives, noting that national awareness campaigns supported by UNCDF have been instrumental in mobilizing communities and shifting cultural attitudes toward modern cooking solutions.

Christine Grau, Ambassador of the European Union to Tanzania and the East African Community, underscored the critical role of partnerships, noting that “the EU has committed €30 million (over TZS 92 billion) to expand access to clean cooking, strengthen sustainable energy markets, protect natural resources, and generate economic opportunities.” She emphasized that this marks “the EU’s largest clean cooking grant in Sub-Saharan Africa” and aligns with the Global Gateway strategy to mobilize private investment, drive innovation, and deliver measurable impact. She added that the support forms part of a broader regional approach to promote private sector development and scale up clean cooking solutions across the continent.

The conference took place against the backdrop of Tanzania’s latest progress report. According to the National Clean Cooking Strategy report (2024–2034), clean cooking access increased from 16 percent in 2022 to 28.6 percent as of March 2026 reflecting measures such as Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) subsidies, reduced electricity tariffs, and tax waivers on clean cooking equipment, alongside private sector and development partner initiatives.

Globally, more than 2.3 billion people still lack access to clean cooking, according to the International Energy Agency, with Africa accounting for the largest share. Tanzania’s efforts therefore contribute not only to national development goals but also to global climate action, public health, and gender equality targets, positioning the country as a regional example of how coordinated action can accelerate progress.

Speaking at the event, Shigeki Komatsubara UNDP Representative in Tanzania and representing UNCDF in the country emphasized the agencies’ mandate and role in the clean cooking ecosystem: “UNCDF works to unlock capital for local development by addressing barriers to affordability, distribution, and enterprise financing. Through the CookFund Programme, we are mobilizing finance, building partnerships, and supporting businesses and innovators to ensure clean cooking solutions reach every household in Tanzania.”

Through the CookFund programme, UNCDF provides financing to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), helping them scale clean cooking technologies and reach more households as well as driving innovation and job creation. Since its inception, the programme has approved and disbursed over 11.2 million through 102 grants to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), supporting approximately 27,000 jobs nationwide.

The programme has expanded access to clean cooking to more than 413,000 households, reaching nearly 1.94 million beneficiaries across Tanzania. In addition, it has supported 961 businesses and 45 public institutions including schools powered by briquettes, Electric Pressure Cookers (EPCs), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and other sustainable fuels. These interventions are significantly reducing reliance on traditional biomass while improving efficiency, safety, and reliability in institutional kitchens.

In schools alone, the programme has reached 62,105 students across 14 districts in five regions of Dar es Salaam, Pwani, Morogoro, Dodoma, and Mwanza, improving learning environments and reducing exposure to harmful smoke. Collectively, CookFund interventions have contributed to avoiding more than 3.8 million tonnes of CO₂e emissions, supporting Tanzania’s climate goals while demonstrating the transformative potential of coordinated public‑private partnership.

The event concluded with renewed commitments from government, donors, and private sector actors to accelerate adoption and ensure that clean cooking becomes a reality for households across the country.