Philips and SNV increase access to clean, efficient cooking solutions

Billions of people still depend on traditional cookstoves or open fires for cooking and heating their homes.

The related health and environmental risks are considerable: every week thousands of people get sick or even die as a direct result of inhaling smoke.

There are cleaner and more efficient cooking solutions available. But communities in rural areas do not know the benefits of clean cooking alternates or cannot access or afford to invest in them. Philips and SNV join forces to address this issue by introducing clean and efficient household cookstoves to rural communities across Africa.

Over the years, SNV has invested in research to learn which cooking solutions are the healthiest, most economical, user- and ecofriendly. Philips produces some of the cleanest products currently available on the market. To increase access to these products, SNV and Philips will collaborate in further research and promotion of clean cooking solutions, community education and access to financing for adopting clean cooking technologies.

According to Andy Wehkamp, SNV’s director of Renewable Energy, the partnership with Philips is a natural step. "We believe that inclusive business can play an important role in poverty reduction and low carbon growth. We want to increase the income and health of low-income groups in a climate smart way, while at the same time generating benefits for participating companies. By joining forces with Philips we expect to reduce the amount of people dependent on open fires or inefficient cookstoves for cooking. This contributes to a better environment, while low-income groups can enjoy better health and living conditions."

For Philips, the attraction of SNV is in their extensive Africa-wide network and deep understanding of the local environment. Christoph Castellaz, Head of Strategy and New Business Development, Philips Africa states "We welcome the opportunity to partner with SNV; Philips is passionate to invent and apply technology to help people but we need meaningful partnerships to co-create new solutions and new business models that can make innovations like our cookstove, accessible and affordable to communities that need them the most."

The collaboration between SNV and Philips will initially focus on Kenya (East Africa) and Ghana (West Africa). An official Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SNV and Philips will be signed during the assembly of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves (GACC) in New York, 20-21 November.