Policies for Universal Clean
Cooking Access
Strong policy and regulatory frameworks are necessary to accelerate progress on clean
cooking, especially to reach the most remote and vulnerable groups. Given the nature of
the challenge, successful policy frameworks must be multisectoral and address hurdles the
market will not address without government intervention. These include establishing the
conditions for the development of financing instruments, building an ecosystem for market
and industry development and consumer affordability support, and developing a knowledge
framework. The subsections below describe the key factors for prioritizing the sector and
developing a conducive policy environment.

Elevating clean cooking to a national priority
The first step in establishing a strong foundation for clean cooking is the development of a
comprehensive national strategy. This strategy should serve as the cornerstone of the
country’s efforts, providing a clear roadmap for universal access to clean cooking. It should
set specific goals, identify key stakeholders (e.g., government agencies, private-sector
entities, and civil society organizations), and define actions and timelines, as well as they are
well integrated within broader energy policies and plans. By considering the evolution of the
country’s fuel-mix pathways, the strategy should aim to expand access to clean cooking
solutions, providing long-term visibility and ensuring mid-term adaptability. This approach
would allow enterprises and investors to identify promising investment areas.
With a strategy in place, the next step is to design clean cooking programs that translate
the strategy into actions. These programs should be tailored to address specific country
challenges and opportunities, ranging from expanding access to clean cooking technologies
to raising public awareness of their advantages. In that regard, they should cover all aspects
of clean cooking, including technology dissemination, user education, financing, and
monitoring and evaluation (M&E). The main goal is to allocate the necessary investment
support for clean cooking–related activities. By establishing well-structured and targeted
programs, the country can ensure that clean cooking initiatives effectively reach those in
greatest need, while positively impacting public health, local economic development, and the
environment.

Creating a conducive policy environment
Policy recommendations for advancing access to clean cooking services are as follows:
Build a strong local supply chain. It is important to establish policies that will aid the growth
and expansion of local manufacturing, distribution, and retail networks. This could include
providing incentives for local entrepreneurs, considering tariff and trade-agreement
measures to reduce the costs of eligible technologies and fuels, facilitating access to
financial resources, and investing in capacity-building efforts to expand supply chains to
reach last-mile consumers and marginalized groups. Strengthening the supply chain must go
hand in hand with establishing and implementing cookstoves and fuel standards to guarantee
the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of clean cooking solutions (see Section 3 for
additional measures to strengthen the market and industry development).

Clean Cooking Market and Industry
Development
The clean cooking market has shown promising signs of maturation, but substantial work
remains to transform it into a vibrant, sustainable industry capable of attracting more
private finance, including corporate equity and debt. In 2022, investments in the sector
exceeded US$200 million and revenue surpassed US$100 million—both record highs for the
industry. However, investment continues to be concentrated in a small number of
enterprises. In 2022, the seven largest companies by capital raised accounted for 90 percent
of total investment in the industry, a figure unchanged since 2020. Notably, liquefied
petroleum gas (LPG) enterprises have dominated funding over the past two years, with 59
percent of total funding in 2021–22 directed toward companies offering only LPG.17

Bridging the Knowledge Gap
Knowledge gaps about the clean cooking sector have hindered the accelerated
transition to modern energy cooking solutions. Gaining a better understanding of what
drives the adoption and sustained use of clean cooking solutions is a key element in bridging
the gap. This includes knowledge on cooking practices (both barriers faced and enabling
factors); improved data, modeling, and planning tools; policy and regulatory impacts;
knowledge sharing and capacity building at multiple levels; and sectorwide standards.

Source:https://www.iea.org/reports/roadmap-for-the-brazil-g20-presidencys-clean-cooking-strategy