New $900 Million Commitments Boost Africa’s Clean-Cooking Drive

In 2024, the inaugural Africa Clean Cooking Summit in Paris secured $2.2 billion for clean-cooking initiatives across the continent. The pledge aimed to replace charcoal, firewood and other polluting fuels with low-emission alternatives such as ethanol, biogas and electricity. Despite that effort, nearly one-billion Africans still lack access to clean cooking, a gap that contributes to an estimated 850,000 premature deaths each year, primarily among women and children.

Africa secures $900 million in new clean cooking commitmentsAfrica Clean Cooking Initiative Secures Additional $900 mn as Nearly 1 bn People Still Lack Access

During a high-level virtual meeting convened by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Kenya, leaders announced an additional $900 million in financial commitments for clean-cooking projects. Attendees included Kenyan President William Ruto, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy Lerato Mataboge, and IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. The new funding builds total pledged resources to more than $3.1 billion, intended for cleaner fuels, stoves and related infrastructure throughout Africa.

Africa secures $900 million in new clean cooking commitments

• $740 million (? one-third of the 2024 Paris commitments) has already been deployed in 22 African countries.

Africa secures $900 million in new clean cooking commitments

• 121 new clean-cooking policies have been introduced across more than 30 countries, covering about 80 % of the population still without clean cooking.

Africa Clean Cooking Initiative Secures Additional $900 mn as Nearly 1 bn People Still Lack Access

• The IEA’s Clean Cooking Security Programme targets supply-chain resilience for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), a fuel used by 3.4 billion people worldwide; recent shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz affected roughly 30 % of global LPG trade.

Africa secures $900 million in new clean cooking commitments

• The African Development Bank Group has increased its clean-cooking financing by approximately tenfold since the 2024 summit.

Africa Clean Cooking Initiative Secures Additional $900 mn as Nearly 1 bn People Still Lack Access

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized that clean cooking “directly affects the lives of billions of people, particularly women and children.” Kenyan President William Ruto warned that “ambition alone is not enough” and called for scaled-up investment. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol described the new $900 million as evidence of “growing momentum” and signaled expectations for further commitments before the next summit. Norwegian Prime Minister Støre highlighted the health toll of polluting fuels and labeled clean cooking “one of the world’s most underfunded opportunities for development and climate action.” African Union Commissioner Lerato Mataboge framed clean cooking as both an energy-access challenge and a major economic opportunity linked to Africa’s Agenda 2063. African Development Bank President Sidi Ould Tah noted the bank’s tenfold financing increase and urged additional partners to match the rising investment.

Africa Clean Cooking Initiative Secures Additional $900 mn as Nearly 1 bn People Still Lack AccessAfrica secures $900 million in new clean cooking commitments

Despite the influx of funds, leaders acknowledged that current financing remains far below the level required to achieve universal access by 2030. Concerns were raised about the vulnerability of LPG supply chains, especially after the Hormuz shipping disruptions, and about the need for stronger international cooperation to secure fuel availability.

Africa secures $900 million in new clean cooking commitments

Expanding clean-cooking access is projected to reduce household air-pollution-related mortality, improve gender equity by lessening women’s exposure to smoke, bolster energy security, and contribute to climate mitigation through lower emissions. The initiative also aligns with broader development goals, including Africa’s Agenda 2063, by unlocking economic participation for women and children in four out of every five households.

Africa Clean Cooking Initiative Secures Additional $900 mn as Nearly 1 bn People Still Lack Access

The next Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa is scheduled for later this year, where stakeholders will review progress, finalize a continent-wide strategy and action plan, and seek additional commitments. The IEA and the African Union will continue to support policy development and the Clean Cooking Alliance’s multilateral implementation efforts.

Africa Clean Cooking Initiative Secures Additional $900 mn as Nearly 1 bn People Still Lack AccessAfrica secures $900 million in new clean cooking commitments

• “Access to clean cooking is one of the most impactful yet overlooked challenges of our time,” — Chris Wright, U.S. Energy Secretary

Africa secures $900 million in new clean cooking commitments

• “Ambition alone is not enough. It must be backed by investment,” — William Ruto, President of Kenya

Africa secures $900 million in new clean cooking commitments

• “The additional $900 million in commitments demonstrates growing momentum, with more expected before the next summit,” — Fatih Birol, IEA Executive Director

Africa secures $900 million in new clean cooking commitments

• “He described clean cooking as one of the world’s most underfunded opportunities for development and climate action.” — Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway

Africa Clean Cooking Initiative Secures Additional $900 mn as Nearly 1 bn People Still Lack Access

• “African Union Commissioner Lerato Mataboge said clean cooking represents not only an energy access challenge but also a major economic opportunity, noting that women and children in four out of every five households continue to be denied opportunities to contribute fully to Africa’s Agenda 2063 development vision.” — Lerato Mataboge, African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy

Africa Clean Cooking Initiative Secures Additional $900 mn as Nearly 1 bn People Still Lack Access

• “African Development Bank Group President Sidi Ould Tah said the bank has increased its clean cooking financing by approximately tenfold since the inaugural 2024 Africa Clean Cooking Summit, while calling on additional partners to match the growing level of investment.” — Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank Group

Africa Clean Cooking Initiative Secures Additional $900 mn as Nearly 1 bn People Still Lack Access