Kenya leads continental push for clean cooking transition through new African coalition
Date: 2026-04-29
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
A
high-level meeting convened in Nairobi has advanced discussions on the
establishment of the Pan-African Coalition on Universal Access to Clean Cooking
(PACUACC), a continental platform aimed at accelerating clean cooking solutions
across Africa.
The
engagement was led by the Office of the First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, in
collaboration with the Executive Office of the President – Office of the
Special Envoy for Climate Change, the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, and a
coalition of development partners and stakeholders.
The
Office of Kenya’s Special Envoy for Climate Change emphasized that the
initiative represents a shift from fragmented interventions toward structured,
large-scale delivery mechanisms. Central to this approach is the Clean Cooking
Delivery Unit (CCDU), which is working to position clean cooking as an
investable and scalable development priority.
Discussions
highlighted that clean cooking extends beyond energy access, linking directly
to health outcomes, environmental protection, gender equity, and economic
productivity. With over 900 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa still relying
on polluting cooking methods, participants underscored the urgency of
coordinated action.
A
key focus of the meeting was the transition from pilot projects to large-scale
implementation, supported by structured financing models, reliable data
systems, and stronger institutional coordination. Institutions such as schools,
hospitals, and correctional facilities were identified as potential anchor
points for scaling demand and investment.
The
proposed coalition is expected to align political leadership with investment
pipelines and delivery frameworks, positioning clean cooking as a structured
development and climate finance opportunity.
Stakeholders
noted that the emerging platform reflects a broader shift toward
execution-focused partnerships, with an emphasis on measurable outcomes and
sustained impact across the continent.
The
initiative signals growing momentum toward a coordinated African-led clean
cooking transition driven by investment, policy alignment, and implementation
at scale.
