The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is implementing a three-year (2021-2024) CookFund Programme named “Accelerated Market Rollout of Clean Cooking Solutions in Tanzania”. The CookFund is funded by the European Union (EU) under the Integrated Approach to Sustainable Cooking Solution Initiative. The official launch took place on the 13th of December 2021 in Dodoma, Tanzania.
Based on the Tanzania Mainland Household Budget Survey (2017/18), access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking is only 17.1% of urban population and 2% of rural population. The increase in demand for wood-fuel is driven by rapid urbanization, high prices, and the limited availability of alternative fuels. To overcome these challenges, the CookFund’s intention is to increase the share of population using sustainable clean cooking energy solutions in urban areas.
The CookFund will provide financial and technical assistance to eligible enterprises and companies to accelerate market roll-out of clean cooking solutions (stoves and fuels) leading to improved social, economic, and environmental conditions. It will finance capital expenditures and/or working capital for building the internal capacity of businesses involved in the production, importation, distribution, wholesale or retail of stoves, fuels, or related products and services.
ABOUT
UNCDF under the Local Finance Initiative (LFI) programme, is the Fund Manager and main implementor of the CookFund Programme. The CookFund is expected to directly benefit suppliers (producers, importers, wholesalers, super-dealers, and retail distributors) of energy efficient and clean cooking technologies in urban areas of five targeted regions in the United Republic of Tanzania, namely of Dar es Salaam, Pwani, Morogoro, Dodoma and Mwanza. This intervention will ultimately increase outreach, availability, and affordability of promoted clean cooking technologies and hence benefit underserved end-users.
Implementation Approach
The CookFund is implemented using a combination of performance-based financing, linking funds to results achieved by enterprises/companies, and pre-financing working and investment capital. Financing instruments will be provided as subsidy/incentives and stage-based working and investment capital. In addition, the CookFund support includes Business Development Services (BDS) to businesses where applicable.
Contribution to Developmental Impacts
The Programme contributes to the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
Main SDGs:
- SDG 7: Provide affordable, dependable, sustainable, and modern energy by 2030.
- SDG 13: Combat climate change and its implications (in line with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change).
- SDG 15: Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt land degradation and biodiversity loss.
Other SDGs:
- SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower women and girls.
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.
