MWANAMKE Initiatives Foundation (MIF), a Tanzanian non-governmental organisation, has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding clean cooking solutions as a catalyst for improved health, women’s empowerment, and environmental protection.
The foundation highlighted its flagship programme, Upishi Salama, which has already assisted 2,000 households in transitioning from traditional cooking methods to cleaner and safer alternatives.
Through awareness campaigns, advocacy, and capacity-building initiatives, MIF has reached over 4,000 community members, promoting behavioural change in energy use.
On the sidelines of the COP30 climate conference in Belem, Brazil, MIF’s Head of Programme, Ms Alice Mushi, said clean cooking must be recognised as a core element of sustainable development.
“Clean, safe, and sustainable cooking is more than a household practice. It is a pathway to better health, economic empowerment, and environmental protection,” she said.
Ms Mushi noted that clean cooking is both a climate and gender priority, as women disproportionately bear the burden of indoor air pollution, long hours spent collecting firewood, and health risks linked to traditional cooking methods.
“Women have carried the weight of unsafe cooking for generations. By transforming cooking practices, we are directly transforming their lives,” she added.
MIF deliberately positions women at the forefront of this transition. Through training, mentorship, and market-awareness programmes, the foundation equips women and youth with skills to engage in the production, distribution, entrepreneurship, and maintenance of clean cooking technologies.
“Our goal is to ensure women are not just beneficiaries but leaders in this space,” Ms Mushi stressed.
She noted that this approach has not only boosted household incomes but also strengthened community resilience and deepened public understanding of climate impacts.
Reflecting on MIF’s participation at COP30, Ms Mushi emphasised the importance of amplifying African voices, particularly women’s, on the global stage.
“Clean cooking is a climate solution, and Africa must be part of that conversation. COP30 is more than attendance; it is a platform to strengthen strategies, unlock collaborations, and mobilise support for community-driven solutions,” she said.