Transforming Tanzania’s Dry Miombo Woodlands Through Clean Cooking Innovation

A Strategic Partnership Between TaTEDO-SESO and TFS Driving Sustainable Energy Solutions in Rural Communities.

Introduction: A Partnership for People, Forests, and Energy Transition

In November 2025, the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) and TaTEDO – Sustainable Energy Services Organization (TaTEDO-SESO) formalized a strategic collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at transforming energy use in vulnerable forest landscapes. The partnership focuses on promoting alternative energy technologies in 14 villages across Tabora and Katavi regions, within the Kaliua and Mlele ecosystem landscapes.

At its core, this initiative aligns community energy needs with forest conservation, addressing one of Tanzania’s most pressing challenges: the unsustainable dependence on biomass fuels in dry Miombo woodlands.

 

From Agreement to Action: Delivering Clean Cooking Solutions

 

Building on the MoU, TaTEDO-SESO successfully implemented a comprehensive training programme in February 2026 across Urambo and Kaliua districts. The programme combined:

  • Electric cooking (eCooking) using Energy-Saving Electric Pressure Cookers (EPCs)
  • Construction of efficient low-cost household firewood stoves

The initiative directly engaged:

  • 50 Trainers of Trainers (ToT) in eCooking (30 men, 20 women)
  • 27 ToT in improved stove construction (22 men, 5 women)
  • Local artisans, women’s groups, district officials, and village leaders

This approach ensured not only knowledge transfer but also long-term local capacity building.

 

Demonstrating the Power of Electric Cooking

 

One of the most impactful aspects of the training was the live demonstration of EPC technology, which challenged long-held perceptions about cooking energy.

Participants observed that:

  • Beans could be cooked in less than one hour
  • Only ~0.5 kWh of electricity was required
  • Cooking cost was approximately TZS 180, significantly lower than charcoal for the same task

Meals such as rice, pilau, ugali, and makande were prepared efficiently, demonstrating:

  • Reduced cooking time
  • Lower energy consumption
  • Improved convenience and safety

These practical demonstrations played a critical role in shifting attitudes toward modern cooking solutions.

 

Live EPC demonstration (e cooking attracts men in the Kitchen)

 

Complementary Solutions: Efficient Biomass Technologies

 

Recognizing that not all households are electrified, the programme also promoted improved low-cost firewood stoves, ensuring inclusivity.

Communities were trained to:

  • Construct stoves using locally available materials (clay, sand, bricks)
  • Integrate chimneys for smoke reduction
  • Improve combustion efficiency and fuel use

This dual-technology approach reflects a realistic and inclusive clean cooking transition pathway, consistent with Tanzania’s national strategy.

Efficient Low-Cost Household Firewood Stove

 

Empowering Communities and Creating Green Livelihoods

 

A key strength of the initiative lies in its community-centred approach, as outlined in the MoU.

The programme:

  • Built local technical skills for stove construction and maintenance
  • Enabled local artisans to develop income-generating opportunities
  • Promoted women’s participation in clean cooking adoption and entrepreneurship
  • Strengthened local governance capacity through engagement with village and district authorities

By training Trainers of Trainers, the project established a scalable model for replication across other regions.

 

Environmental and Health Impact

 

The initiative contributes directly to:

 Forest Conservation

  • Reduced demand for firewood and charcoal
  • Lower pressure on dry Miombo woodlands

 Health Improvements

  • Reduced indoor air pollution
  • Lower exposure to smoke-related diseases

Energy Efficiency

  • Transition toward modern, low-carbon cooking solutions
  • Increased efficiency in both electric and biomass systems

 

Challenges and Lessons Learned

Despite strong progress, several challenges were identified:

  • Limited initial awareness of EPC technology
  • Affordability barriers for low-income households
  • Need for continuous technical support and follow-up

These insights reinforce the importance of:

  • Financing mechanisms (e.g., group financing, on-bill financing)
  • Continued awareness campaigns
  • Strengthened last-mile delivery systems

 

Scaling the Impact: A Model for National Transformation

 

The TaTEDO-SESO–TFS partnership demonstrates a practical, scalable model for integrating:

  • Clean cooking
  • Forest conservation
  • Community empowerment

The MoU explicitly emphasizes collaboration with government, private sector, and development partners to scale interventions nationwide.

With strong alignment to Tanzania’s National Clean Cooking Strategy (2024–2034), this initiative provides a blueprint for achieving:

  • Increased access to modern cooking solutions
  • Reduced deforestation
  • Inclusive green economic growth

 

Conclusion: A Just and Inclusive Energy Transition

 

The collaboration between TaTEDO-SESO and TFS is more than a project, it is a transformational pathway toward sustainable energy use in rural Tanzania.

By combining innovation (EPCs), inclusivity (improved biomass stoves), and community empowerment, the initiative demonstrates that clean cooking is not only an energy issue, it is a development, health, and environmental imperative.

 

With continued investment, partnerships, and policy support, this model has the potential to reshape Tanzania’s cooking energy landscape while protecting its forests and improving livelihoods