Project overview

Emerging Cooking Solutions provides low-income households in Zambia access to affordable clean cooking solutions through a unique utility model. Switching to clean fuels and modern stoves through Emerging Cooking Solutions yields positive health outcomes, time and money savings and increased food security for low-income populations.

 

 

The challenge

The use of some fuels and inefficient stoves for cooking is not only harmful to the environment but also endangers the health and well-being of billions of people globally. Unfortunately, it is enormously challenging to transition populations to clean cooking systems due to affordability or accessibility. Current delivery models of clean cooking solutions struggle to scale due to these barriers, especially when targeting low-income communities.

Solution
A visit to the Savings Groups in Lusaka

 

Emerging Cooking Solutions provides low-income households in Zambia access to affordable clean cooking solutions through a unique utility model. It manufactures biomass pellets from waste, which are used in gasifying stoves designed for cleaner combustion as an alternative to charcoal and firewood. Through an innovative distribution model, households pay minimal fees for the stoves, maintaining business sustainability instead by committing to buying 30 kg of pellets monthly. This model tackles affordability, availability and adoption challenges while reducing harmful gas exposure. The modern stoves are connected to an Internet of Things system, which allows Emerging Cooking Solutions and its users to collect data and monitor stove usage to calculate its real impact.

Results

In its pilot running from the end of 2023 to the beginning of 2024, Emerging Cooking Solutions gained 312 customers and helped them save US$2,363.44 and 83,890 hours with more efficient stoves. The clean cooking solution has also averted 764.2 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions compared to traditional cooking methods. Switching to clean fuels and modern stoves through Emerging Cooking Solutions yields positive health outcomes, time and money savings and increased food security for low-income populations.

cooking
83,890
hours saved with efficient stoves
Distributed 300 stoves, enabling over 1000 individuals to cook meals cleanly and efficiently.
312
customers
set up 19 distribution points through group leaders for the 19 Village Banking groups,
764.2
metric tonnes CO2 averted
Each household saved an average of 51% on monthly cooking fuel expenses.
$2,363
in savings
“Previously, I would spend more than ZMW 1000 (approximately US$37) on cooking fuel, but with the Mini Moto, my monthly expenditure on cooking fuel has reduced to either ZMW 260 or ZMW 130 (US$10 or US$5). Additionally, the stove allows me to prepare meals in the shortest possible time.”
Namate Liangwile, an Emerging Cooking Solutions customer from Chilenje, Zambia
The Way Forward

Emerging Cooking Solutions became an alumnus of the WFP Innovation Accelerator sprint programme in 2024 but is still actively operating.

Beyond participating in the WFP Innovation Accelerator sprint programme, Emerging Cooking Solutions aims to reach a minimum of 1 million households over ten years.

 

Meet the team

Matthias Ohlsen
Matthias Ohlsen
Co-founder and CEO
Marion Peterson
Marion Peterson
Chief Operations Officer
Jason Andean
Jason Andean
Chief Operating Officer
Towela Nyirenda
Towela Nyirenda
Sales and After Sales Manager
Last updated: 08/04/2025