Clean Cooking Alternative Financing Project launched in Addis Ababa

By:  Robert Annor

The Clean Cooking Alternative Financing Project (CCAFP) has officially been launched in Addis Ababa, marking a significant step toward expanding access to affordable clean cooking solutions in Ethiopia. The launch event, held at the Sapphire Hotel, brought together stakeholders from the public and private sectors, development partners, and clean energy practitioners.

The project is being implemented by eQub Financial Technologies in partnership with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), with strong support from the SEE–Clean Cooking HTCC Ethiopia project, which has backed the initiative since its inception. The CCAFP aims to address financing barriers that limit the adoption of clean cooking technologies, particularly among low-income households and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Delivering the keynote address, Haimanot Berta, SEE–Clean Cooking Component HTCC Project Coordinator, underscored the critical role of access to finance, private sector participation, and innovative financing mechanisms in accelerating the transition to clean cooking solutions across Ethiopia. She emphasized that sustainable adoption depends on aligning financial inclusion with technology deployment and market development.

A second keynote address was delivered by Alexander Hizikias, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of eQub Financial Technologies, who outlined the company’s vision to scale inclusive clean cooking solutions through digital innovation. He highlighted eQub’s use of a digital in-kind eQub financing model, which enables households and small businesses to access electric cooking appliances through flexible collective payment schemes.

Under the CCAFP, this financing approach is designed to make electric cooking technologies more affordable, particularly for low-income communities and local merchants, while promoting financial inclusion and supporting the growth of clean cooking markets. The model allows users to acquire stoves and related equipment through structured group-based payments, reducing upfront costs and financial risk.

The launch event also featured a panel discussion that examined key barriers and enablers to clean cooking adoption, including rural accessibility, user-centered product design, affordability, and risk-sharing financial instruments for both consumers and suppliers. Local merchants participating in the project showcased verified electric cooking products, demonstrating the readiness of small businesses to scale clean cooking solutions in the Ethiopian market.

The SEE–Clean Cooking HTCC project, which has played a central role in supporting the initiative, is coordinated by RVO in partnership with the Energising Development (EnDev) programme and implemented by GIZ and SNV. The project is carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and the European Union, reflecting continued international support for clean energy access and sustainable development in Ethiopia.