Project R-16919

Solar Cookers for All: Locally Led Innovation for Sustainable and Clean Cooking Solutions in Africa (Education)

Around 2.4 billion people worldwide still rely on charcoal or biomass for cooking, with serious consequences for health, the environment, and the economy. Building on the collaboration between UHasselt and University of Lubumbashi (UniLu) on the development of locally adapted solar cookers, this project aims to accelerate the adoption of hybrid clean-cooking systems supported by solar energy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (UniLu), Tanzania (Ardhi University), and Uganda. Adoption in these contexts is hindered by factors such as economies that depend heavily on charcoal, cultural practices, and limited institutional support. The project strengthens locally led innovation through participatory co-design, field testing closely embedded in local communities, and knowledge exchange across the participating countries. Key activities include the development of affordable prototypes using recycled materials, gender-responsive capacity building, locally organized training in production and repair, and a UniLu-led quality assurance unit. By combining research on adoption with the further development of hybrid systems and strategies for market development, the project creates a sustainable link between research and development, local entrepreneurship, and the long-term, socially embedded adoption of clean-cooking solutions.

01 September 2026 - 31 August 2031