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9 December 2024
Bringing clean cooking solutions to over 20 000 people living in Africa’s most vulnerable locations – informal settlements.
Clean cooking is a lifeline for millions living in Africa’s urban informal settlements. The Enabling African Cities for Transformative Energy Access (ENACT) programme, led by ICLEI Africa, is rewriting the narrative for energy access in Kampala (Uganda) and Freetown (Sierra Leone). With groundbreaking interventions, ENACT is not only improving lives but also shaping the future of sustainable urban energy solutions.
A bold mission for transformative change
ENACT has been brave in its choice of sector – clean cooking – and location of intervention – informal settlements, both of which were based on directives and guidance from the governments and communities we serve. One could argue convincingly that there is no more transformative action than attempting to alleviate the socio-economic, health, climate and lifestyle strain of the 990 million African residents – most of which live in informal settlements – who cook with wood and charcoal. Household air pollution causes more than 4 million deaths globally every year—more than malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS combined.
ENACT’s key achievements at a glance
- Through collaboration with governments, private sector players, and communities, ENACT has surpassed expectations:
Benefiting over 20,000 individuals from target informal settlements in Kampala and Freetown.
Capacitated more than 5,000 people on clean cooking and its benefits.
Supported private companies in entering new markets, with 57 new jobs created. - Delivered clean cooking policy recommendations and strengthened government-private sector collaborations, which are crucial to intervention sustainability.
- Developed monitoring and evaluation tools to aid streamlined reporting and learning on the value of clean cooking interventions in African informal settlements.
Transforming Lives: Rhoda’s Story
Rhoda, a risk officer in Kampala, exemplifies ENACT’s impact. Previously bound by long cooking hours using charcoal, she now enjoys a healthier, more efficient lifestyle with clean cooking technologies. Her newfound energy independence has given her more time with family and inspired her to champion energy access in her community. Hear more transformative stories from residents in Kisenyi informal settlement in Kampala in this video.
The road ahead
Building on the momentum of the first phase of ENACT, ICLEI Africa recently launched the ENACT Uganda Scale-up (ENACTUS) project, which will harness all that was learnt and developed in the first phase, to scale ENACT to additional informal settlements within the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA). More info here.
Why it Matters
By addressing energy poverty with sustainable solutions, ENACT is doing more than lighting stoves—it’s lighting paths to better health, economic opportunities, and environmental resilience.
ICLEI Africa is committed to expanding this transformative work via the African Cities Clean Cooking Facility (ACCF) and invites partners, stakeholders, and global citizens to join the journey toward universal access to clean cooking, for all.
ICLEI Africa is committed to expanding this transformative work via the African Cities Clean Cooking Facility (ACCF) and invites partners, stakeholders, and global citizens to join the journey toward universal access to clean cooking, for all.
ENACT is funded with UK aid from the UK Government via the Transforming Energy Access platform. ENACT phase 1 was implemented by ICLEI Africa, with support from Energy 4 Impact – Mercy Corps. ENACTUS is implemented by ICLEI Africa in collaboration with Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.ENACTUS supports the Uganda Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development’s (MEMD) clean cooking programme alongside Global Green Growth Initiative, and the MECS programme.
