The Netherlands Development Organisation, SNV, shared the positive outcomes it has seen through the introduction of clean energy cooking stoves, during the closing ceremony of the Higher Tier Cooking Component (HTCC) project, which took place on March 6, alongside the closure of the Smoke Free Village (SFV) project.
The project was jointly implemented by the Ministry of mines and Energy and SNV. A joint press release noted that their cooperation will continue.
It explained that clean cookstoves reduce the need to use firewood for cooking, which has a positive impact on health, livelihoods and the environment.
During the implementation of the project, local SMEs sold 31,653 clean stoves (30,190 electric stoves and 1,463 gasifiers) and installed 731 domestic biodigesters.
The project supported 62 rural SMEs, including 42 female-owned businesses, to expand their operations and the project offered Innovation Funding for 8 enterprises (three women-led) to test new business approaches. Enterprises supported by the project increased sales of clean cookstoves and gained confidence and management skills, said the release.
The release also noted that the Smoke Free Village (SFV) project had enabled 111,000 households in targets to improve their cooking practices and 432 out of 487 target villages achieved more than 85 per cent of primary clean cooking usage.
Bastiaan Teune, SNV country director, said the project helped translate policy ambitions into on-the-ground results for households and businesses.
Representatives from the energy ministry and the EU delivered remarks recognising the partnership and progress toward wider clean cooking adoption, especially in rural and “last-mile” communities.
During the closing workshop, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the ministry and SNV, reinforcing continued collaboration on clean energy and cooking initiatives in Cambodia.
The programme is co-financed by the European Commission, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Danida. The programme is coordinated by RVO and operates in partnership with EnDev.