The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission and development partners have reviewed progress on a regional initiative aimed at expanding access to affordable and sustainable clean cooking solutions for 750,000 people across West Africa.
The review was conducted at the second Steering Committee meeting of the Regional Clean Cooking Action for West Africa (ReCCAWA), held at the ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement on Monday, the €17 million initiative is financed by the European Union and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the health, environmental and socio-economic challenges associated with dependence on traditional cooking fuels, particularly firewood and charcoal.
The programme is jointly implemented by the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
During the meeting, stakeholders assessed technical progress and discussed measures to strengthen national ownership of the programme across the region.
They also reviewed regional policy frameworks, gender equity commitments and strategies for developing sustainable clean cooking markets in West Africa.
The Steering Committee, chaired by the ECOWAS Commission’s Energy and Mines Directorate, provides strategic oversight for the implementation of the regional initiative.