In rural Africa, the kitchen is more than just a place to prepare food—it is the heart of daily life for many families. However, for millions of women, cooking is burdened with challenges that affect their health, consume their time, and limit their opportunities. Firewood and other traditional fuels are still widely used, but they come with steep costs: harm to their health, countless hours spent gathering fuel, and constraints on their potential.
At Sistema.bio, we work every day with these women, providing clean cooking solutions that transform their lives. I’ve witnessed firsthand how access to clean energy can change a community and, more importantly, how it can transform the lives of African women and girls.
In Africa, nearly 70% of households still rely on fossil fuels such as firewood and charcoal for cooking. Women bear the brunt of this burden, spending up to 30 hours a week gathering firewood. This not only accelerates deforestation but also exposes women to physical strain and health risks. Smoke inhalation from traditional stoves is a major cause of severe respiratory diseases, contributing to 4 million deaths annually worldwide, with African women being disproportionately affected.
Time spent searching for fuel means less time for education, work, or family. Women and girls are denied opportunities to break free from traditional roles, trapping them in a cycle of poverty.
The adoption of clean cooking solutions, like biodigesters, can help lift women and their families out of poverty, directly contributing to SDG 1 (No Poverty). Clean cooking technologies save time, reduce fuel costs, and allow women to engage in more economically productive activities.
With a Sistema.bio biodigester, households generate not only biogas for cooking but also organic biofertilizer. This increases agricultural productivity and provides an additional source of income from improved yields. Families can then reinvest these savings into education and business opportunities, breaking free from the constraints of traditional cooking practices.
In Africa, smallholder farmers—many of whom are women—are responsible for feeding their families and communities. The introduction of biodigesters improves food security by producing biofertilizer as a byproduct of the clean energy process. This biofertilizer enriches the soil, leading to better crop yields and, ultimately, more food on the table.
For rural African women, this shift has profound implications. It not only reduces the burden of meal preparation but also enables women to contribute more effectively to their households’ food production, supporting SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).
Clean cooking is about more than just health and convenience; it is a catalyst for gender equality. In many African communities, women are the primary gatherers of fuel, a task that reinforces traditional gender roles and limits their potential. With clean cooking solutions, these women gain time and freedom—time to pursue education, generate income, and participate more actively in their communities.
By reducing the daily labor associated with cooking, clean energy frees women from one of the most time-consuming household chores. This directly supports SDG 5 (Gender Equality), empowering women to make decisions that improve both their well-being and that of their families.
I recently met Moraa, a smallholder farmer who spent years collecting firewood to cook for her family. The smoke-filled kitchen caused respiratory problems for both her and her children. Since installing a biodigester, Moraa’s life has completely transformed. She no longer suffers from smoke-related health issues, and the time saved from not gathering firewood has enabled her to start a small business selling vegetables grown with the biofertilizer produced by her biodigester. Her story, like so many others across Africa, is a powerful testament to the impact of clean energy in transforming lives.
On this International Day for Rural women, let us remember that the challenges faced by rural African women are not isolated—they are deeply connected to the global issues of poverty, hunger, and gender inequality. Clean cooking is a crucial piece of the puzzle in addressing these challenges and building a more just and equitable future.
The future of Africa is bright, and it begins with empowering women by providing them with the tools they need to succeed. Clean energy is one of the most powerful of these tools. Let’s continue to work together for the health of our women, the prosperity of our communities, and the sustainability of our planet.
For more details, please visit: IFC Clean Impact Bond.
An assessment by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) under the Clean Impact Bond revealed significant benefits for women using biogas for cooking. Households experienced a 68% reduction in PM2.5 exposure, potentially preventing 16 deaths and 578 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) annually per 10,000 homes. Women saved an average of 99 minutes daily on cooking and fuel tasks, allowing for an increase of 47 minutes of Quality Time each day. These findings underscore the positive health outcomes and empowerment opportunities that clean cooking solutions provide for women.
Madrin Maina
Director of Sistema.bio in Africa
