By Our Correspondent
As International Women’s Day 2025 approaches, Tanzania finds itself at a crossroads where women's empowerment and environmental sustainability intersect.
The National Environment Management Council (NEMC) has made a remarkable contribution to both causes with its recent donation of four clean cooking stoves to Arusha Primary School.
This act is not just a gift for the school, but a step forward in the country’s long-term strategy to provide clean, sustainable cooking solutions for all.
Arusha Primary School, which serves approximately 1,600 students, has long been reliant on traditional cooking methods such as firewood and charcoal.
These methods have been a persistent challenge, contributing to deforestation, environmental degradation, and posing health risks, particularly for the women and children who often spend hours in kitchens inhaling smoke from burning wood and charcoal.
The donation of clean cooking stoves from NEMC is a game-changer as stoves, which run on clean energy sources, promise to reduce harmful emissions, improve cooking efficiency, and alleviate the environmental burden that traditional cooking methods impose.
More importantly, this initiative brings a dual benefit: a healthier school environment and a step towards gender empowerment, aligning perfectly with the spirit of International Women’s Day.
Lilian Lukambuzi, Director of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment on behalf of Dr. Immaculate Sware Semesi, the Director General of NEMC, emphasized the significance of this donation as part of the national efforts to promote clean cooking energy.
“This donation is part of our support for the government’s clean cooking energy strategy. It helps improve the health and well-being of Tanzanians and protect our environment,” she stated.
The clean stoves are also in line with President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership in advocating for cleaner, more sustainable cooking methods across Africa.
Under her direction, Tanzania has committed to reducing the adverse environmental impact of traditional cooking methods, ensuring that by 2034, 80% of the population will be using clean cooking energy.
This national strategy, known as the National Clean Cooking Energy Strategy, aims to reduce deforestation and improve public health, particularly in rural areas where reliance on firewood and charcoal is most prevalent.
Beyond the environmental benefits, the clean stoves have a significant impact on the daily lives of the women at Arusha Primary School.
Traditionally, women in Tanzanian households have been responsible for cooking, often spending several hours a day gathering firewood and preparing meals.
The introduction of these clean cooking stoves will allow for faster, more efficient food preparation, freeing up time for women to engage in other productive activities.
By easing the burden of household chores, the stoves contribute to gender equality by allowing women to explore opportunities for income generation, education, and personal development.
Ms Lukambuzi further highlighted the broader impact of clean cooking technology on women’s empowerment, noting, “This is a big step toward empowering women.
By using clean cooking energy, we’re not only protecting the environment but also giving women more chances to engage in other productive work.”
This donation is a small but significant step towards creating a healthier and more equitable society in Tanzania, where both women and the environment can thrive.
As the world celebrates International Women’s Day 2025, NEMC’s commitment to clean cooking energy highlights the profound intersection between gender equality, environmental sustainability, and public health.
With the continued push for clean energy solutions, it is clear that Tanzania is on the right path toward achieving a more sustainable, healthier, and more equitable future.
Through initiatives like this, we are reminded of the powerful role that clean energy plays in shaping a better world for all.