Nigeria Clean Cooking Project
Reducing emissions and improving health through efficient cookstoves
The Nigeria Clean Cooking Project supports climate change mitigation and adaptation while delivering significant social and economic benefits. By distributing efficient cookstoves to households and institutions, the project reduces greenhouse gas emissions, curbs deforestation and empowers communities with safer, faster, and more sustainable cooking solutions.
The project addresses the widespread reliance on traditional biomass cooking methods in Nigeria, which contribute to indoor air pollution, forest degradation, and time poverty. Through targeted deployment of improved cookstoves, it provides both environmental and livelihood benefits, particularly for women and children, while promoting the adoption of cleaner, low-carbon technologies.
Location: Nigeria
Project type: Cookstove / Clean Cooking
Project impacts
Climate & environment
- Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through more efficient cooking technologies (SDG 13 – Climate Action)
- Reduced demand for firewood and charcoal, helping to combat deforestation (SDG 15 – Life on Land)
- Improved energy efficiency lowers carbon footprint of household cooking
Social & economic
- Improves health by reducing exposure to indoor air pollutants (SDG 3 – Good Health and Wellbeing)
- Reduces time spent collecting firewood, giving women and children more time for education, employment and community participation (SDG 5 – Gender Equality)
- Decreases household fuel costs, freeing income for other essential needs (SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth)
- Creates alternative livelihood opportunities through cookstove production, distribution and sales
This project contributes to multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, delivering measurable environmental and social outcomes.
Project details
In Nigeria, over 70% of the population relies on traditional open fires or inefficient stoves using solid fuels, resulting in high levels of indoor air pollution. This contributes to approximately 64,000 deaths annually, disproportionately affecting women and children in low-income households.
The project distributes efficient charcoal cookstoves with ceramic liners that improve combustion efficiency and retain heat, reducing fuel consumption by up to 50%. These stoves provide multiple co-benefits: faster cooking, reduced exposure to harmful smoke, cleaner kitchens, and decreased pressure on forests. By lowering charcoal and firewood demand, the project also helps prevent deforestation, supporting long-term environmental sustainability.
Collaborations
The project is delivered in partnership with Anthesis and other organisations, enabling investment in production, distribution and deployment of energy-efficient cookstoves and water treatment systems. Carbon finance allows project partners to implement these solutions where they are most needed.
The initiative is Gold Standard certified, guaranteeing robust monitoring, reporting and auditing of emissions reductions.
Quality criteria
All Anthesis-supported carbon removal projects undergo independent verification to confirm permanent carbon storage and measurable environmental benefits. Projects must demonstrate alignment with UN SDGs 12, 13, and 15, promote soil and ecosystem health, and deliver robust climate and nature outcomes.
- Gold Standard certified for robust emissions accounting
- Clear additionality through the deployment of efficient cooking technologies in high-need areas
- Monitoring, reporting and verification of emissions reductions and social outcomes
- Demonstrable health, economic, and environmental co-benefits
- Inclusion of women and vulnerable communities in project activities
- Alignment with international best practices for clean cooking initiatives
Through rigorous auditing, monitoring, and adherence to international standards, Anthesis ensures all projects provide credible, lasting impact for both climate and local communities.
Project facts
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