GHANA EFFICIENT CHARCOAL COOK STOVES
Location(s)
Accra, Ghana
Project Funding Date(s)
February 2010
Total Funds Disbursed
$4,600
Total Beneficiaries
Approximately 750
Project Delivery Partner
Not Applicable
Local Partner / Organization
Project Description
The vendors in Adabraka Market, most of whom are women, use traditional charcoal cook stoves to cook and prepare their food products for sale. As a result, they use large amounts of charcoal, which can be costly and leads to faster deforestation and high CO2 emissions. energy4everyone partnered with IFL, a Ghanaian micro-finance institution, to distribute energy efficient charcoal cook stoves to interested vendors.
The project was structured as a micro-finance subsidy project. This approach has two main benefits. Firstly, it improves the sustainability of the project and the equipment as beneficiaries have a greater motivation to continue to use the equipment. Secondly, funds that are repaid by the beneficiaries will be made available for future project phases. In effect, the initial funds disbursed act as a form of endowment.
Positive Impact
Phase 1 of the project at Adabraka Fish Market resulted in the distribution of 160 efficient cook stoves. The efficient cook stoves burn 40% less charcoal than traditional cook stoves due to a ceramic liner that retains heat. This allows the beneficiaries to save money from reduced charcoal consumption. In addition, the reduced charcoal consumption results in reduced CO2 emissions and, indirectly, reduces deforestation.
