Applying an inclusive governance approach to clean cooking

This approach, called Smoke Free Village (SFV), combines community education with a unique governance strategy that involves people at all levels and is rooted in Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) efforts. The approach emphasises local ownership and the identification of change-makers.

SFV's approach has been remarkably successful. Over three years, 50,000 households purchased clean cookstoves without any financial assistance. This included 15,000 electric stoves and 32,000 gas stoves. Importantly, 12,000 wood-burning stoves were removed from households. This change has improved people's lives, their health and the environment.

The strategy works at two levels. First, projects engage directly with local communities, working with village leaders, schools, health centres and religious leaders. Second, they work with government officials at district, provincial and national levels to promote clean cooking as a priority.

A key lesson learned by SNV was to link its objectives to existing priorities of government stakeholders. For example, they showed how clean cooking could contribute to national energy efficiency targets.

Another important aspect of SNV's work is to involve a wide range of community members in promoting clean cooking. They form local working groups that include community leaders, monks, stove suppliers, health workers and others. This diverse approach helps spread the message more effectively.

Finally, SNV identifies "changemakers" - people who are motivated to solve problems in their community. By providing these people with knowledge and resources, SNV helps to ensure that the clean cooking initiative continues after its direct involvement has ended. Finally, SFV projects have found that celebrating successes and encouraging friendly competition between villages helps to motivate communities to achieve their clean cooking goals. Villages that achieve high levels of clean cookstove use are officially declared 'smoke-free' in a public ceremony, inspiring other villages to strive for the same recognition.

Download this brief to learn more about the key lessons the Cambodia Energy Team has learned in implementing this governance approach to help communities switch to cleaner, healthier cooking, improving lives and protecting the environment.

For readers interested in how clean cooking programmes can create meaningful social and gender outcomes, this document offers practical lessons from innovators working in Cambodia. It shows how rural entrepreneurs used targeted financial and technical support to expand clean cooking access, build local sales networks, and influence behaviour change across underserved communities.

In Cambodia’s remote communities, five rural SMEs supported through the Higher Tier Cooking Component project expand access to clean cooking. This publication provides insights into mobile marketing, sales agent networks, after sales services, and hands on community demonstrations that helped scale modern cooking solutions in remote areas.

For a broader view of the human stories behind the clean cooking transition, Madjala’s story from Mali shares how cultural practices, public health, and community leadership come together to shape cleaner and safer cooking. The narrative shows how improved cookstoves and women’s leadership can spark acceptance of clean cooking and shift perceptions across communities.