Improved Cook Stoves to Improve Indoor Air Quality Among Rural Women in Africa

Project Background According to a publication of the world bank, 98.7% of Cameroonian low-income use only fuel wood/charcoal for cooking The wood demand form household energy largely exceeds the available renewable woody biomass. More than 80% of the local inhabitants along the mount Cameroon national are involve in poaching ,subsistence farming(Bush fallowing and shifting cultivation) in the mount Cameroon national park . Cameroon has recorded significant damage to its ecosystems in the last several decade following the unsustainable use and exploitation of natural resources. The 22 million hectares of forestland are receding by about 100,000 hectares per year. Especially the ongoing deforestation in the Cameroon s mangrove forests and mountain forests of mount Cameroon in the south west region is a serious concern for these ecosystem as the population pressure on the resources is increasing . More than 97% of the women use the 3 stone fire site with a lot of wood fuel producing smoke that affects their health conditions In 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that air quality causes between 7 and 8 million deaths every year. The makes air pollution the leading environmental cause of premature deaths. Exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollution is closely linked to increase in occurrences of cardiovascular disease, such as strokes and heart disease, as well as cancer and respiratory disease. The main source being cooking and heating with solid fuels – wood and other biomass based fuel – over open fires. The two actions that can dramatically lower biomass use and improve indoor air quality are the use of efficient cook/heating stoves and cleaner burning fuels. Project Goal: Contribute to the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals( 3,5 6 13 and 17) and to contribute article 11 and 12 of the Paris Climate Agreement Global Objectives: To Reduce indoor air pollution and improve on the health condition of the rural women and children in Cameroon SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES • To improve air quality among 100 rural women in 10 village communities in Cameroon • To improve on the health conditions of 100 rural women. • To train 100 rural women to adapt and mitigate climate change with Fuel efficient stoves • To reduce the rate of deforestation by 10% among the 100 rural women in 10 village communities. • To save the forest and cost of wood fuel 100 rural women in 10 village communities in Cameroon The project activities is to produce and distribute 100 improved fuel efficient cook stoves with the aim to improve indoor air quality among the rural women and children which affect their health.The Rural women will be trained to use local materials( clay,straw, salt) to design and produce the fuel efficient stovesThe improved clean cook stove will substitute the three-stone-firesite (Traditional stoves) which affect the health of the rural women in their kitchens and these stoves have the following advantages: • Cook faster and cheaper • Save the forest and Mitigate climate change • Less expensive and cost effective (Cheaper) • Protect the health of women and children PROJECT EXPECTED OUTCOME: • Improve air quality among 100 rural women in 10 village communities in Cameroon • improve on the health conditions of 100 rural women in 10 village communities in Cameroon • 100 rural women educated and sensitized to adapt and mitigate climate change with Fuel efficient stoves • Save the community forest by 10% among the 100 rural women in 10 village communities. • Saved cost of wood fuel by $ 20 monthly among 100 rural women in 10 village communities in Cameroon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czo7Ww4bI2M • Improvement of air quality among 102rural women (less smoke and air particulate) • Improvement of health conditions among 102 rural women and quality of healthy life style. • 100 rural women are trained to produced improved cook stoves to adapt and mitigate climate change in the raining seasons(low temperatures) • 50% Reduction in the rate of deforestation among the 100 rural women in 10 village communities posing less pressure of the mount Cameroon Forest • More than $40 of the cost of wood fuel saved among 100 rural women in 10 village communities in Cameroon. 1.Interested stakeholders can get involve by providing technical inputs in assessing the socio economic impact of the improved cook stoves 2.Connect ICENECDEV to other technical and financial partners to scale up and replicate this project other regions in Cameroon and and Africa. 3. Providing Capacity Building in the Production and Distribution of Improve cook stoves and Air Quality