Awareness Creation and Influencing Decision Makers (MECS)

The project had two components, one for awareness creation and another for influencing decision-makers. This project focused on raising awareness and promotion of highly efficient clean cooking electric appliances (EPCs in particular) to stakeholders and the public to raise demand and adoption of highly efficient electric pressure cookers in different communities and the public at large, especially in areas with grid electricity but still cooking with woodfuels. The awareness component aimed to increase adoption and scale up the market of efficient and clean cooking appliances (EPC in particular) through effective and efficient public and community awareness strategies and mechanisms through different means and mass media. The awareness campaigns through mass media were implemented nationwide but demonstrations and showcases were performed in selected project areas with high potential for EPC market development. The awareness campaign component was undertaken concurrently with another component of influencing decision-making at the national level which was implemented in Dodoma and entailed undertaking advocacy actions. The aim was to provide outreach to decision-makers and policymakers or leaders on awareness of EPCs potentials compared to biomass and other fuels and drawbacks which may hinder its demand and delivery to the country's large segment of the population. The advocacy actions were conducted through respective workshops with the Members of the Parliament at the Parliament Compounds and government officials from 5 sectoral ministries and agencies in Dodoma. Demonstrations of electric cooking for different stakeholders were undertaken simultaneously during the workshops with government officials and Members of Parliament.