Radha’s Message for August 2015
Dear Friends,
While I typically use this message to report on activities from the previous month, next month is an important time, both for the Alliance and for global development, and I’d like to take a moment to highlight what’s happening in the weeks ahead.
September will mark the five-year anniversary of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, and we are excited to be reaching this important milestone, the mid-way point of our 10-year strategic plan. The Alliance was founded with a simple vision: that cooking shouldn’t kill. It’s been an incredibly impactful journey thus far, and we look forward to working with our more than 1,300 partners to continue facilitating widespread adoption of clean cookstoves and fuels over the next five years. Be on the lookout for additional updates throughout the month on this topic!
Also coming next month, the Alliance is preparing for a number of global convenings, including the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting, and the United Nations’ adoption of the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda. These meetings will help set the development agenda for years ahead, and the Alliance’s engagement will focus on drawing the connections between clean cooking solutions and strong implementation of the new Global Goals. We will also be highlighting our effective market-based approach as a successful model that can be replicated broadly as the international community embarks on its ambitious agenda.
In addition to all the preparations being made for September, we also joined the international community in August to commemorate World Humanitarian Day, encouraging global leaders and concerned citizens to keep a focus on the more than 58 million people currently displaced from their homes due to conflict, war, and disaster – the large majority of whom do not have access to clean cookstoves and fuels. As part of our humanitarian work, the Alliance partnered with the UN High Commission for Refugees to co-host the second-annual Safe Access to Fuel and Energy Humanitarian Training, in which 90 participants from 25 countries discussed the needs and best approaches for getting reliable fuel and energy for cooking and lighting in crisis settings. Read a full report on the meeting here.
As we continue our work to remove barriers that may inhibit market development, one particular challenge we have seen is around import duties placed on cookstoves in some countries. This is certainly true in Bangladesh, which at nearly 61%, has one of the highest import duties on cookstoves anywhere in the world. This month’s feature story outlines ways this issue can be addressed.
Finally, as we look ahead toward celebrating our five year anniversary next month and the transition to the new global goals, the Alliance is also eagerly anticipating the Clean Cooking Forum 2015, which will be held in Accra, Ghana from November 10-13. Registration for the Forum is now open, so please be sure to register and reserve your space.
Regards,
Radha
@Radha_Muthiah