A Review of Improved Cooker Stove Utilization Levels, Challenges and Benefits in Sub-Saharan Africa
Kingsley Kaputo, Mabvuto Mwanza, Stephen Talai
Abstract
Many attempts to enhance cooking stoves have been implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). These programs aim to limit indoor air pollution, improve the lives of women, reduce the usage of fuel (charcoal), which reduces deforestation, alleviate the financial burden of energy costs on low-income people, and improve user health by lowering environmental toxins. Other objectives include reducing global warming and improving the social well-being of people in developing countries. The efficiency of the Improved Cookstove programs has gotten mixed evaluations. Several of the projects fell short of their planned objectives, however some did. The use, challenges, and benefits of programs to enhance cookstoves across sub-Saharan Africa are examined in this essay. It starts by looking at a few specific Cookstove technologies, which are divided into groups according on the fuels they burn and whether or not they are mobile. It has been found that factors such as the technical compatibility of the stoves with social expectations, the conformity to local needs and cultures, the attitude of the users, who are frequently reluctant to adopt new technology, and the price of the stove all affect how challenging the programs are. Also, "bottom-up" strategies ensure the program's success by involving users and regional artisans in the creation of a self-sustaining sector.