Traditional indoor wood-burning stoves are widely used in this community, with 93% of households cooking indoors daily. These stoves contribute to high levels of indoor air pollution, which negatively affects health, especially for women and children. By installing improved cookstoves in 50 households, this project is expected to reduce indoor air pollution by up to 99.5%. The new stoves are also 17% more efficient, which will reduce wood consumption by approximately 63%, helping to preserve local forests and reduce the burden of fuel collection.
This project builds on strong community interest shown in two previous cookstove initiatives. While earlier efforts used metal stoves that eventually fell into disrepair due to lack of replacement parts, this project uses a design that can be built and repaired locally. A single metal component with a 10-year lifespan will be supported by a direct connection to a local supplier. This approach ensures the project is practical, sustainable, and aligned with community priorities and cultural practices.