Accelerating County Cooking Transitions (A2CT)

The project aims to reduce dependence on polluting biomass fuels by empowering county governments to design and implement evidence-based, gender-responsive, and socially inclusive clean cooking policies. 

Implemented by SNV, with the Clean Cooking Association of Kenya (CCAK) and Gamos East Africa, A2CT is funded through the UK PACT programme, which supports just and inclusive climate transitions. The initiative aligns with Kenya’s ambition of universal access to clean cooking by 2030, as outlined in the Kenya National Cooking Transition Strategy (2024–2030) and the Integrated National Energy Plan (INEP). The project aims to reduce household air pollution, improve health, and expand equitable economic opportunities—especially for women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other groups underrepresented in energy conversations.

A2CT is being implemented from July 2025 to December 2026 in Taita Taveta, Meru, and Kakamega counties. Throughout this period, the project supports counties to embed clean cooking priorities into development plans, while creating avenues for communities to express their needs in their own words and shape the solutions intended to serve them.

Millions of households in Kenya still cook with firewood, charcoal, and kerosene. These fuels burden families with high health risks, financial costs, and time-consuming labour. Indoor air pollution contributes to respiratory illness, disproportionately affecting women and children. Unsustainable biomass use accelerates deforestation and increases emissions, placing pressure on both ecosystems and national climate commitments.

National strategies, such as the Kenya National Cooking Transition Strategy (KNCTS 2024–2030), offer a strong foundation. Yet many counties lack the data systems, financing structures, and technical expertise needed to turn policy into real change. A2CT was developed to help close this gap. SNV and its partners bring evidence, experience, and local insight to support counties in moving from aspiration to action. SNV’s role includes strengthening county planning and budgeting systems, supporting the development of inclusive clean cooking policies, promoting gender equality and social inclusion, and building partnerships across government, civil society, and the private sector.

SNV is working with counties to turn Kenya’s national clean cooking ambitions into practical, local solutions, through improving air quality, expanding green job opportunities, and making sure no one is left behind in the country’s clean energy transition. To move this vision from paper to practice, A2CT uses an integrated and inclusive approach that brings together policy support, capacity development, data generation, and collaboration across communities, government, and the wider clean cooking ecosystem.

Key activities include:

• Data and evidence generation: Creating standardised data frameworks and baselines for informed county planning.

• Capacity strengthening: Training officials, artisans, and community organisations on clean cooking technologies, finance, data, and inclusive planning.

• Policy and governance support: Guiding counties to draft and operationalise Clean Cooking Transition Policies aligned with national frameworks.

• Gender equality and social inclusion: Supporting meaningful involvement of women, youth, and persons with disabilities in enterprises and policy dialogues.

• Stakeholder engagement: Establishing technical working groups and partnerships that support coordination and shared learning.

• Finance and entrepreneurship: Strengthening financial literacy and supporting enterprises in local clean cooking value chains.

A2CT builds on SNV’s long-standing work in market-based energy access and lessons from its youth employment model, and aligns with the Energy for All strategy focused on inclusive, climate-resilient energy transitions.

Social impact: Reduced indoor air pollution and improved health outcomes. Stronger awareness of the benefits of clean cooking, and expanded agency for women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

Economic impact: Growth in green jobs, better access to finance, and stronger local markets shaped by county-led policy and private-sector participation.

Environmental impact: Lower emissions, reduced pressure on forests, and counties better equipped to design climate-responsive energy plans.