Campaigns Kick Off to Promote Cookstoves in Ghana and Uganda
As part of the global efforts to change the way millions of people in developing countries cook, the Alliance has teamed with government leaders and local cookstove alliances in Ghana and Uganda to launch two new campaigns to encourage adoption of cleaner, more efficient cookstoves.
In Ghana, the Campaign for Improved Cookstoves, dubbed “Obaatan Boafo” or “Mother’s Helper” locally, will encourage urban and peri-urban dwellers who depend on biomass and charcoal for cooking to switch to improved cookstoves that burn fuels more efficiently and effectively. As a result, the improved stoves can help cut smoke emissions, reduce the amount of money people spend on fuel and also protect the environment. The campaign, focusing on the message ‘Cleaner, healthier, easier cooking, every day,’ will have three key components: The Women’s Advocacy Campaign, The Community Market Activations, and the Radio Awareness Campaign.
A launch event held at the Efua Sutherland Park kicked off the three-month campaign and brought together leaders in the cookstove sector in Ghana including the Energy Commission, Ministries of Power, Gender and a number of developmental partners including SNV, KfW. The event was also attended by some local manufacturers and importers of improved cookstoves and a group of Women Cookstove Advocates, who are embarking on a community door to door activation as part of the campaign.
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Called “Fumbalive” or “cook and live,” the Uganda behavior change campaign is encouraging local consumers to adopt the use of improved cookstoves as a way of promoting energy saving cooking practices. The improved cookstoves promoted under the campaign can be clearly identified by the Good Stove-Better Cooking quality label as the standard sign for authenticated stoves.
The Fumbalive campaign is to be implemented across Uganda and will include visits to several urban markets with the aim of raising awareness and increase knowledge amongst the target audience on cleaner cooking solutions, their importance and benefits. This will also be an opportunity for the public to purchase genuine improved cookstoves at reduced rates. The campaign will feature radio and social media campaigns, experiential roadshows across Uganda, and door-to-door outreach.
“These campaigns are part of the Alliance’s global efforts to use the power of communication to raise awareness about the benefits of cleaner cooking and inspire people to make the switch to cleaner and more efficient practices,” said Brian Smith, Chief Operating Officer of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves.