The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) has secured an additional € 2.4 million from the European Union (EU) to extend the CookFund program, aimed at promoting clean and green energy cooking solutions in five regions of mainland Tanzania. This brings the total funding for the program to €19.4 million, up from €17.0 million, supporting its implementation until September 2026.
Expressing appreciation for the extra funding, Peter Malika, Head of UNCDF Tanzania, emphasized that it would fortify the legal framework and raise awareness about the urgency of combating climate change by adopting cleaner and more efficient cooking alternatives. The CookFund program, currently active in Mbeya, Iringa, Ruvuma, Njombe, and Katavi regions, focuses on enhancing access to clean and affordable cooking energy for rural and impoverished households.
The additional funding aims to overcome market barriers in the clean energy cooking sector by improving end-user affordability, addressing business undercapitalization, and extending the reach of clean energy solutions. It will also support legal and regulatory frameworks for biomass energy, including enforceability, and initiate the transition of public institutions from charcoal and firewood to cleaner fuels and appliances.
Malika highlighted that the funds would contribute to nationwide campaigns utilizing media platforms such as radio and television to raise public awareness about clean energy cooking. The CookFund program aligns with the EU's broader Integrated Approach to Sustainable Cooking Solutions initiative.
The UNCDF, serving as the main implementing and fund manager, collaborates with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in these efforts. Malika emphasized that such initiatives play a crucial role in achieving the National Energy Policy and the Sustainable Development Goals. The CookFund program's overarching goal is to make clean cooking solutions readily available and affordable, stimulating a sustainable cooking energy mix and encouraging a shift away from traditional methods like wood and charcoal.