Malawi Improved Cookstove Project

Malawi Improved Cookstove Project (GS12340)

Project Description

ClimeTrek Ltd and IP MAEVE are implementing the Gold Standard “Malawi Improved Cookstove Project.” This large-scale initiative focuses on replacing the widespread use of traditional, inefficient cooking methods in Malawi, which contribute to indoor air pollution, deforestation, health risks, and labour-intensive practices. The project has distributed 76,450 improved cookstoves across the country, targeting ultra-poor households, households near production centres, and refugees in informal settlements.

The problem
Malawi, one of the world’s poorest countries, has the majority of its population living below the poverty line. While clean energy is essential for equitable and sustainable development, the low national electrification rate, particularly in rural areas, means that most Malawian households still rely on firewood or charcoal for cooking. As a result, Malawi experienced a 36% decline in forest cover between 1990 and 2020 (UN FAO report, 2020). The combination of limited energy sources and overexploitation of natural resources has led to ‘energy poverty’ and environmental degradation, which, in turn, have suppressed economic growth and hindered the provision of basic services.

The solution
The project replaces traditional three-stone fire stoves with Chitetezo Mbaula improved cookstoves, significantly reducing firewood consumption and CO₂ emissions.

Helping the people
These efficient project stoves provide multiple benefits: saving time on firewood collection and cooking, allowing women and girls to engage in education and income-generating activities; improving indoor air quality, reducing respiratory health risks; and conserving forests by decreasing firewood demand. The training and awareness programs under this cookstove project also help people become aware of climate change and the sustainable use of non-renewable fuelwood.

Helping the planet
This project will help the planet by reducing deforestation, which preserves Malawi’s non-renewable biomass, lowers greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and promotes sustainable energy use.

Project Timeline

Listing: Q4 2022

Registration : Q4 2023

Verification : Q2 2024

Issuance: Q3 2024

Impact

This project will help the Malawian smallholder farmers to transition from extractive, under-productive mono crop agriculture to diverse and abundant food forest agriculture. High yielding regenerative agriculture practices will give larger and more diverse crop yields leading to increased income opportunities for the farmers, better landscape management, and additional revenues through the carbon market mechanisms. Practices like deep-bed farming and regenerative agriculture will also improve the soil carbon capacity of the project area.