COP28: Tanzanian President, H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, Launches AWCCSP

In a historic move at COP28 in the UAE, Tanzanian President, H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, unveiled the African Women Clean Cooking Support Programme (AWCCSP), a transformative initiative spanning from 2023 to 2026.

This three-year program is set to address critical gender, environmental, health, and economic challenges faced by women and girls in Africa resulting from traditional cooking methods.

AWCCSP represents a paradigm shift towards environmental sustainability. It offers the potential to liberate women and girls from the time-intensive burden of traditional cooking practices.

As a distinguished advocate for the Generation Equality Forum (GEF), President Samia Suluhu Hassan, leading the Action Coalition on Economic Justice and Rights, emphasizes the program’s significance in achieving gender equality and empowering women within the global agenda for a just energy transition and reaching global net-zero emissions by 2050.

Key Objectives of AWCCSP

1. Promote the adoption of clean cooking technologies across Africa. To mitigate the adverse effects of indoor air pollution on women’s health.
2. Empower African women economically through training and support, enabling them to become entrepreneurs in the clean cooking technology sector.
3. Create a platform for regional cooperation and knowledge exchange among African nations.
4. Enhance the representation of African women in leadership positions.

Targeted Outcomes:

1. Distribute clean cooking technologies to 50% of households in all regions within 3 years.
2. Train and support 5,000,000 women entrepreneurs in each region to establish clean cooking businesses.
3. Train and support 25% of young women in each region, preparing them for various leadership roles.
4. Advocate for clean cooking policy changes in at least 30 African countries within 3 years.
5. Reduce indoor air pollution-related health issues by 35% in the targeted communities within 3 years.
6. Establish a sustainable network for regional cooperation and knowledge exchange.

The estimated funding required for the AWCCSP is $2 billion per year.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan believes that the AWCCSP will not only spearhead environmental sustainability but also usher in a new era of empowerment for women and girls across the African continent.

The program aligns with global initiatives, emphasizing clean and affordable cooking fuels, innovations, and technologies as essential components of the just energy transition.